Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($184,200 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails New Bedford by $6,295/yr
New Bedford, MA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $6,295 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$107k less
$184,200 vs $291,300
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Median Income
$6,295
$54,604 vs $48,309/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
52% lower
353.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 13 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 Knoxville to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $291,300 median home), income ($48,309 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and New Bedford, MA are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.