New Bedford, MA vs Taunton, MA

New Bedford is moderately more affordable than Taunton, with a 10.2% lower cost of living index. New Bedford scores 95 compared to 106 for Taunton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Taunton 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 $1,269/month in Taunton — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Bedford is more affordable at $324,400 median vs $388,200.

Median household income in New Bedford is $56,025 compared to $79,715 in Taunton (-29.7%). While Taunton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of New Bedford spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Taunton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.4°F vs 50.4°F). Taunton receives more rainfall at 47.6" per year compared to 45.9" in New Bedford.