Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton 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
Population
100,620
Thornton
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $732/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $154k less ($291,300 vs $445,200)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $40,460/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $40,460 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than New Bedford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$154k less
$291,300 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$40,460
$95,064 vs $54,604/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
23% lower
273.6 vs 353.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 11 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $445,200 median home), income ($54,604 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Thornton, CO are about 1,771 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.