New Bedford, MA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In New Bedford, MA Summary
Cost of living in New Bedford research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means New Bedford is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Massachusetts, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in New Bedford is 114, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in New Bedford is 1.1x higher than the national average.
New Bedford ranks as the #18 cheapest in Massachusetts out of 113.
New Bedford ranks as the #4,427 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.
The median home value in New Bedford is $258,300.
The median income in New Bedford is $50,581.
Table Of Contents
New Bedford's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in New Bedford, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Bedford has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, New Bedford has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Massachusetts's index of 143.
The standard of living in New Bedford ranks as #18 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies New Bedford ranks as the #95 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in New Bedford, check out:
- Living In New Bedford
- New Bedford Crime Report
- Search Homes For Sale In New Bedford, MA
In Massachusetts
In America
New Bedford Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Bedford. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Bedford is 121.
The Groceries index in New Bedford is 110.
The Health index in New Bedford is 107.
The Housing index in New Bedford is 101.
The Transportation index in New Bedford is 104.
The Utilities index in New Bedford is 127.
| Living Expense | New Bedford | Massachusetts | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 143 | 100 | |
| Services | 121 | 126 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 110 | 108 | 100 | |
| Health | 107 | 117 | 100 | |
| Housing | 101 | 202 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 104 | 114 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 127 | 123 | 100 | |
New Bedford, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in New Bedford is $258,300.
The Median Rent in New Bedford is $936.
The Median Income in New Bedford is $50,581.
The Home Value To Income in New Bedford is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Bedford is 0.22x.
| Statistic | New Bedford | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $258,300 | $424,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Rent | $936 | $1,429 | $1,163 |
| Median Income | $50,581 | $89,026 | $69,021 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.8x | 3.5x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.19x | 0.2x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
New Bedford, MA Costs By Category
Detailed New Bedford Services Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $0.96 | $1.06 |
| Movie | $12.75 | $10.68 |
| Bowling | $19.67 | $14.67 |
| Haircut | $24.44 | $18.62 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.53 | $39.05 |
Detailed New Bedford Groceries Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $3.82 | $4.22 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.75 | $1.39 |
| Milk | $2.52 | $2.05 |
| Potatoes | $4.11 | $3.29 |
| Pizza | $10.49 | $10.62 |
| Beer | $10.32 | $9.38 |
| Toothpaste | $2.53 | $2.34 |
Detailed New Bedford Health Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.39 | $108.57 |
| Doctor | $157.87 | $116.17 |
| Dentist | $92.75 | $99.13 |
Detailed New Bedford Transportation Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $2.15 | $2.22 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.0 | $50.07 |
Detailed New Bedford Utilities Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $240.57 | $167.67 |
| Phone | $189.01 | $175.64 |
New Bedford SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Bedford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Bedford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fall River, MA has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x New Bedford.
Taunton, MA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x New Bedford.
Somerset, MA has a cost of living index of 121, 1.1x New Bedford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall River, MA | 93,339 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Taunton, MA | 59,076 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Somerset, MA | 18,271 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Tiverton, RI | 8,240 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Middleborough Center, MA | 7,790 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Bliss Corner, MA | 5,529 | 117 | 1.0x |
