Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
South Bend
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
63% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $5,548 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($113,800 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Rent averages $91/mo less ($935 vs $1,026)
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $5,548/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Income
$5,548
$54,604 vs $49,056/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
63% lower
353.2 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$178k less
$113,800 vs $291,300
South Bend
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 9 and South Bend wins 14. 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $113,800 median home), income ($54,604 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and South Bend, IN are about 790 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.