Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 17 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Springfield
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Springfield
Cons
Median income trails Springfield by $7,815/yr
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($147,700 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,815 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Rent averages $113/mo less ($913 vs $1,026)
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Violent Crime
61% lower
353.2 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$7,815
$62,419 vs $54,604/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$144k less
$147,700 vs $291,300
Springfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 10.2% ✓ 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 | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 17 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 6 and Springfield wins 17. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $147,700 median home), income ($54,604 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Springfield, IL are about 986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.