Marlborough, MA vs New Bedford, MA

The cost of living difference between Marlborough, MA and New Bedford, MA is dramatic. New Bedford is 37.5% cheaper than Marlborough, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Marlborough has a cost index of 131 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 Marlborough is $1,721/month compared to $1,085/month in New Bedford — a 59% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Bedford is more affordable at $324,400 median vs $485,400.

Median household income in Marlborough is $95,047 compared to $56,025 in New Bedford (+69.7%). While Marlborough is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Marlborough spend roughly 21.7% 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 Marlborough.