Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Escondido, CA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories
Escondido
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
151,114 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
12
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.
Escondido, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,950 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 26.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,400
Higher rents — median is $1,833/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than New Bedford
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($291,300 vs $616,400)
Rent averages $807/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,833)
19% less violent crime than Escondido
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Escondido
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Escondido by $22,950/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Escondido
Median Income
$22,950
$77,554 vs $54,604/yr
Escondido
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Escondido
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
19% lower
353.2 vs 433.5 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$325k less
$291,300 vs $616,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Escondido, CA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,400⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,833⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,554 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Escondido Union | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.9" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 151,114 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Escondido's cost of living index is 111.5 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories. Escondido wins 11 and New Bedford wins 12. 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 Escondido to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($77,554 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Escondido, CA and New Bedford, MA are about 2,568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.