Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 16 of 22 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
6
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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($204,800 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $8,510 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Louisville/Jefferson County metro government by $8,510/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Income
$8,510
$63,114 vs $54,604/yr
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$87k less
$204,800 vs $291,300
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
50% lower
353.2 vs 707.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 16 of 22 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 16 and New Bedford wins 6. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $291,300 median home), income ($63,114 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and New Bedford, MA are about 815 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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