Arlington, MA vs New Bedford, MA

The cost of living difference between Arlington, MA and New Bedford, MA is dramatic. New Bedford is 82.2% cheaper than Arlington, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Arlington has a cost index of 173 while New Bedford sits at 95, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $2,043/month compared to $1,085/month in New Bedford — a 88% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Bedford is more affordable at $324,400 median vs $885,000.

Median household income in Arlington is $141,440 compared to $56,025 in New Bedford (+152.5%). While Arlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 23.2% in New Bedford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 50.4°F). New Bedford receives more rainfall at 45.9" per year compared to 42.6" in Arlington.