Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Springfield
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $11,154 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Springfield
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($146,400 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $148/mo less ($878 vs $1,026)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $11,154/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Income
$11,154
$54,604 vs $43,450/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
70% lower
353.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$145k less
$146,400 vs $291,300
Springfield
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 8 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $146,400 median home), income ($54,604 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Springfield, MO are about 1,228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.