Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Syracuse 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
Syracuse
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Syracuse
Households earn $11,020 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($117,900 vs $291,300)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $94/mo less ($932 vs $1,026)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $11,020/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Income
$11,020
$54,604 vs $43,584/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
54% lower
353.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$173k less
$117,900 vs $291,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Syracuse leads 12 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 11 and Syracuse 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $117,900 median home), income ($54,604 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Syracuse, NY are about 282 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.