New Bedford, MA vs Worcester, MA

New Bedford is moderately more affordable than Worcester, with a 11% lower cost of living index. New Bedford scores 95 compared to 107 for Worcester, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Worcester 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 $1,415/month in Worcester — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Bedford is more affordable at $324,400 median vs $339,500.

Median household income in New Bedford is $56,025 compared to $67,544 in Worcester (-17.1%). While Worcester 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, less than the 25.1% in Worcester.