Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($192,000 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $133/mo less ($893 vs $1,026)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails New Bedford by $5,413/yr
New Bedford, MA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $5,413 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$99k less
$192,000 vs $291,300
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Median Income
$5,413
$54,604 vs $49,191/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
58% lower
353.2 vs 845.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 14 and New Bedford wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Cincinnati to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $291,300 median home), income ($49,191 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and New Bedford, MA are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.