Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale 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
Population
100,620
Sunnyvale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $1389k less ($291,300 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1964/mo less ($1,026 vs $2,990)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $119,902/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $119,902 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
31% less violent crime than New Bedford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than New Bedford
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$1389k less
$291,300 vs $1,680,700
New Bedford
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$119,902
$174,506 vs $54,604/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
31% lower
244.5 vs 353.2 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 14 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 9 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($54,604 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.