Residential comparison · 13 facts
New Bedford, MA vs Taunton, MA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in New Bedford needs about $87,000 in Taunton to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Taunton, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $83,000 in New Bedford.
A few differences
- Taunton is higher on median household income ($79,283 vs $56,981).
- New Bedford is lower on cost of living index (103 vs 111).
- New Bedford is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,183/mo vs $1,519/mo).
New Bedford vs Taunton · facet by facet
| Facet | New Bedford, MA | Taunton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $357,300 | $422,800 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,183/mo | $1,519/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.14% | 1.14% |
| State & local income tax | 5% | 5% |
| Sales tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Cost of living index | 103 | 111 |
| Groceries index | 108 | 108 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $56,981 | $79,283 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Crime index | 30/100 | 30/100 |
| School rating | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: New Bedford, MA · Taunton, MA
Questions & answers
- Is New Bedford cheaper than Taunton?
- New Bedford has the lower day-to-day cost index (103 vs 111 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Taunton equals $85,000 in New Bedford?
- A household earning $85,000 in New Bedford needs about $87,000 in Taunton to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Taunton lifestyle costs about $83,000 in New Bedford.