Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
New Bedford
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 7.2%)
Median income trails New Bedford by $4,703/yr
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,357)
17% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (7.2%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,703 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Median Home Value
$14k less
$277,200 vs $291,300
Hemet
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Median Income
$4,703
$54,604 vs $49,901/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
17% lower
353.2 vs 424.8 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 100,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories. Hemet 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 Hemet to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $291,300 median home), income ($49,901 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and New Bedford, MA are about 2,546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.