Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 22 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Reno
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($291,300 vs $462,100)
33% less violent crime than Reno
Rent averages $334/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $18,469/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $18,469 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
33% lower
353.2 vs 529.6 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$171k less
$291,300 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$18,469
$73,073 vs $54,604/yr
Reno
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 22 categories. New Bedford wins 9 and Reno wins 13. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $462,100 median home), income ($54,604 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Reno, NV are about 2,535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.