Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
New Bedford
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $10,448 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($111,400 vs $291,300)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $10,448/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Income
$10,448
$54,604 vs $44,156/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
39% lower
353.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$180k less
$111,400 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. New Bedford wins 11 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $111,400 median home), income ($54,604 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Rochester, NY are about 356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.