New Bedford, MA vs Springfield, MA

Springfield is moderately more affordable than New Bedford, with a 10% lower cost of living index. New Bedford scores 95 compared to 86 for Springfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of New Bedford can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in New Bedford is $1,085/month compared to $1,114/month in Springfield — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while New Bedford has cheaper rent, Springfield actually has lower median home values ($222,700 vs $324,400).

Median household income in New Bedford is $56,025 compared to $51,339 in Springfield (+9.1%). The higher salaries in New Bedford partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of New Bedford spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, less than the 26% in Springfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.4°F vs 49.4°F). New Bedford receives more rainfall at 45.9" per year compared to 45.2" in Springfield.