Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Lubbock leads 15 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ 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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($181,600 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Lubbock
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lubbock
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Lubbock by $4,130/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Income
$4,130
$58,734 vs $54,604/yr
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$110k less
$181,600 vs $291,300
Lubbock
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
57% lower
353.2 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 15 of 23 categories. Lubbock 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 Lubbock to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $291,300 median home), income ($58,734 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and New Bedford, MA are about 1,773 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.