Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 15 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
8
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($184,600 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Households earn $4,506 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Median income trails Indianapolis by $4,506/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Income
$4,506
$59,110 vs $54,604/yr
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$107k less
$184,600 vs $291,300
Indianapolis
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
New Bedford
Violent Crime
60% lower
353.2 vs 877.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 15 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 15 and New Bedford wins 8. 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 Indianapolis to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $291,300 median home), income ($59,110 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and New Bedford, MA are about 806 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.