Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Houston leads 14 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($235,000 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Households earn $5,836 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Houston
Rent averages $209/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,235)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Houston by $5,836/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Income
$5,836
$60,440 vs $54,604/yr
Houston
Median Home Value
$56k less
$235,000 vs $291,300
Houston
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
69% lower
353.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Houston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 14 of 23 categories. Houston wins 14 and New Bedford wins 9. 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 Houston to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $291,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and New Bedford, MA are about 1,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.