Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($170,700 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $7,774 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Des Moines by $7,774/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$7,774
$62,378 vs $54,604/yr
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$121k less
$170,700 vs $291,300
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Des Moines
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
50% lower
353.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 32.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 13 and New Bedford wins 10. 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 Des Moines to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $291,300 median home), income ($62,378 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and New Bedford, MA are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.