Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 14 of 23 categories
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
New Orleans
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
76% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.2%)
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,162)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Households earn $3,488 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 39°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.2%)
Median income trails New Bedford by $3,488/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Income
$3,488
$54,604 vs $51,116/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
76% lower
353.2 vs 1444.1 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $281,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 49.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 14 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 9 and New Orleans wins 14. 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 New Bedford to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $281,500 median home), income ($54,604 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and New Orleans, LA are about 1,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.