Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 New Bedford leads 12 of 22 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $486k less ($291,300 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $951/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,977)
19% less violent crime than Westminster
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $25,667/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,667 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than New Bedford
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
19% lower
353.2 vs 436.2 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$486k less
$291,300 vs $777,100
Westminster
Median Income
$25,667
$80,271 vs $54,604/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 12 of 22 categories. New Bedford wins 12 and Westminster wins 10. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $777,100 median home), income ($54,604 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Westminster, CA are about 2,596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.