Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita 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 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Wichita
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Wichita
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Wichita
Median income trails Wichita by $6,108/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($166,400 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Rent averages $111/mo less ($915 vs $1,026)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Violent Crime
34% lower
353.2 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$6,108
$60,712 vs $54,604/yr
Wichita
Median Home Value
$125k less
$166,400 vs $291,300
Wichita
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories. New Bedford wins 6 and Wichita 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $166,400 median home), income ($54,604 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Wichita, KS are about 1,425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.