Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New Bedford leads 13 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
New York
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $441k less ($291,300 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $688/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,714)
47% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Median income trails New York by $22,003/yr
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $22,003 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
47% lower
353.2 vs 671.0 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$441k less
$291,300 vs $732,100
New York
Median Income
$22,003
$76,607 vs $54,604/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 13 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 13 and New York wins 10. 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 York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $732,100 median home), income ($54,604 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and New York, NY are about 171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.