Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,422)
21% less violent crime than Tampa
Homes cost $42k less ($291,300 vs $333,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $12,198/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,198 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Cost of living runs 3% higher than New Bedford
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
21% lower
353.2 vs 444.6 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$42k less
$291,300 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$12,198
$66,802 vs $54,604/yr
Tampa
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 11 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $333,200 median home), income ($54,604 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Tampa, FL are about 1,148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.