Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 13 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $32,362 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $716/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,742)
Homes cost $187k less ($291,300 vs $478,400)
28% less violent crime than Kent
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $32,362/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$32,362
$86,966 vs $54,604/yr
New Bedford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
28% lower
353.2 vs 489.7 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$187k less
$291,300 vs $478,400
New Bedford
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 13 of 23 categories. Kent wins 10 and New Bedford wins 13. 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 Kent to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($86,966 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and New Bedford, MA are about 2,510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.