Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Grand Rapids leads 12 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
11
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($203,900 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,030 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
New Bedford, MA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,138)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Grand Rapids by $7,030/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Grand Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$7,030
$61,634 vs $54,604/yr
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$87k less
$203,900 vs $291,300
Grand Rapids
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
New Bedford
Violent Crime
61% lower
353.2 vs 910.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 32.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Rapids leads 12 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $291,300 median home), income ($61,634 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and New Bedford, MA are about 756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.