Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Salt Lake City
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($291,300 vs $458,600)
59% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,254)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $17,753/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $17,753 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Violent Crime
59% lower
353.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$167k less
$291,300 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$17,753
$72,357 vs $54,604/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 10 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $458,600 median home), income ($54,604 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.