Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 15 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,515 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($291,300 vs $582,400)
37% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
Rent averages $343/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,369)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 16.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $9,515/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$9,515
$64,119 vs $54,604/yr
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
New Bedford
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
37% lower
353.2 vs 558.4 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$291k less
$291,300 vs $582,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 15 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 8 and New Bedford wins 15. 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 East Los Angeles to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($64,119 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and New Bedford, MA are about 2,597 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.