Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Midland leads 15 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ 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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $35,844 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $35,844/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Midland
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$35,844
$90,448 vs $54,604/yr
Midland
Median Home Value
$11k less
$280,700 vs $291,300
Midland
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
3% lower
353.2 vs 364.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Midland is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 15 of 23 categories. Midland 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 Midland to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $291,300 median home), income ($90,448 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and New Bedford, MA are about 1,836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.