Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Spokane
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Spokane
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Spokane by $8,712/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.2%)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $8,712 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Violent Crime
48% lower
353.2 vs 674.9 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.9 on the COL index
Spokane
Median Income
$8,712
$63,316 vs $54,604/yr
Spokane
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Spokane
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 9 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $286,900 median home), income ($54,604 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Spokane, WA are about 2,287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.