Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($291,300 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $614/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,640)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $53,561/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $53,561 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (2.2%)
30% less violent crime than New Bedford
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$201k less
$291,300 vs $492,300
Sandy
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$53,561
$108,165 vs $54,604/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
30% lower
246.7 vs 353.2 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
2.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 8 and Sandy wins 15. 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 Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $492,300 median home), income ($54,604 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Sandy, UT are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.