Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 13 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
New Bedford
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($101,500 vs $291,300)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($809 vs $1,026)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
More college-educated — 22.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails New Bedford by $11,469/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Households earn $11,469 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$190k less
$101,500 vs $291,300
New Bedford
Median Income
$11,469
$54,604 vs $43,135/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
6% lower
353.2 vs 375.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 32.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 100,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Erie is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 13 of 23 categories. Erie wins 10 and New Bedford wins 13. 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 Erie to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $291,300 median home), income ($43,135 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and New Bedford, MA are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.