Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Springfield
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (7.2%)
Households earn $6,927 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($198,500 vs $291,300)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $6,927/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Income
$6,927
$54,604 vs $47,677/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
60% lower
353.2 vs 891.4 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$93k less
$198,500 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 79.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 $198,500 median home), income ($54,604 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Springfield, MA are about 88 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.