Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
11
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,253 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 8% higher than New Bedford
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $1021/mo less ($1,026 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $255k less ($291,300 vs $546,200)
29% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $44,253/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$44,253
$98,857 vs $54,604/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
29% lower
353.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$255k less
$291,300 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 12 and New Bedford wins 11. 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 Fairfield to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $291,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and New Bedford, MA are about 2,676 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.