Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
West Valley City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
25% less violent crime than West Valley City
Rent averages $334/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,360)
Homes cost $42k less ($291,300 vs $333,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $27,115/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.0%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than West Valley City
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $27,115 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Violent Crime
25% lower
353.2 vs 469.5 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$42k less
$291,300 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Income
$27,115
$81,719 vs $54,604/yr
West Valley City
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 12 and West Valley City wins 11. 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $333,600 median home), income ($54,604 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and West Valley City, UT are about 2,117 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.