Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 15 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($198,900 vs $291,300)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $12,763/yr
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 7.2%)
New Bedford, MA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (7.2%)
Households earn $12,763 more per year on average
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,154)
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hartford
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$92k less
$198,900 vs $291,300
New Bedford
Median Income
$12,763
$54,604 vs $41,841/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
32% lower
353.2 vs 515.8 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
7.2% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 32.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 15 of 23 categories. Hartford 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 Hartford to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $291,300 median home), income ($41,841 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and New Bedford, MA are about 90 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.