Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $697/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,723)
Homes cost $165k less ($291,300 vs $456,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $87,780/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.3%)
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $87,780 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
33% less violent crime than New Bedford
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$165k less
$291,300 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$87,780
$142,384 vs $54,604/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
33% lower
235.4 vs 353.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 17. 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $456,400 median home), income ($54,604 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.