Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Bedford, MA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 13 of 22 categories
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Bedford, MA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $48k less ($243,300 vs $291,300)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Bedford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
35% lower
353.2 vs 544.3 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Median Income
$1,130
$55,734 vs $54,604/yr
Yakima
Median Home Value
$48k less
$243,300 vs $291,300
Yakima
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,604 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.3% | 5.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.4% | 19.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.3% | 77.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Bedford | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.5" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,620 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Bedford's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yakima leads 13 of 22 categories. New Bedford wins 9 and Yakima wins 13. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $243,300 median home), income ($54,604 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Bedford, MA and Yakima, WA are about 2,443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.