Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620
Renton
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($291,300 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $838/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,864)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $37,688/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $37,688 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than New Bedford
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$286k less
$291,300 vs $576,800
New Bedford
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$37,688
$92,292 vs $54,604/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
4% lower
339.2 vs 353.2 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 105,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 12 and Renton wins 11. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $576,800 median home), income ($54,604 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Renton, WA are about 2,508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.