Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 18 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620
Peoria
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,638)
Homes cost $92k less ($291,300 vs $383,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $32,155/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $32,155 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than New Bedford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$92k less
$291,300 vs $383,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.9 on the COL index
Peoria
Median Income
$32,155
$86,759 vs $54,604/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
28% lower
254.7 vs 353.2 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 18 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 5 and Peoria wins 18. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $383,600 median home), income ($54,604 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Peoria, AZ are about 2,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.