Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Dearborn leads 16 of 23 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($189,400 vs $291,300)
17% less violent crime than New Bedford
Households earn $9,996 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $179/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,205)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Dearborn by $9,996/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Dearborn
Key Differences at a Glance
Dearborn
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Income
$9,996
$64,600 vs $54,604/yr
Dearborn
Violent Crime
17% lower
292.6 vs 353.2 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$102k less
$189,400 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dearborn leads 16 of 23 categories. Dearborn wins 16 and New Bedford wins 7. 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 Dearborn to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($64,600 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and New Bedford, MA are about 631 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.