Is New Bedford cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in New Bedford is $1,527 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 21% cheaper. Median household income is $54,604 in New Bedford compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, New Bedford or Dallas?

New Bedford is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 109 in Dallas — 34% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, New Bedford or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in New Bedford and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

New Bedford, MA vs Dallas, TX

New Bedford, MA versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,527 a month in New Bedford and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $54,604 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

New Bedford takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where New Bedford leads by 111% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in New Bedford can feel further apart than New Bedford and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the New Bedford and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full New Bedford report Full Dallas report

New Bedford, MA

Rent: $1,527/mo
Median income: $54,604
Crime index: 72
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

21% cheaper

New Bedford rent is 21% cheaper than Dallas

New Bedford

Winner

$1,527/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,527 a month in New Bedford versus $1,931 in Dallas, so New Bedford is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $404/month back in your pocket — $4,848/year. Over five years that's $24,240 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Dallas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, New Bedford is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

17% higher

Dallas's median income is 17% higher than New Bedford

New Bedford

$54,604

Dallas

Winner

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,985 in Dallas versus $54,604 in New Bedford, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Dallas — about $9,381 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Dallas is the stronger labor market on paper. New Bedford can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

34% lower crime

New Bedford's crime index is 34% lower than Dallas

New Bedford

Winner

72 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

New Bedford's crime index is 72 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in New Bedford. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, New Bedford is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

New Bedford and Dallas are about even on school scores.

New Bedford

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in New Bedford, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

111% more comfortable

New Bedford weather is 111% more comfortable than Dallas

New Bedford

Winner

68°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

New Bedford scores 111% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 68°F in New Bedford and 92°F in Dallas. New Bedford reads as mild, livable temperatures; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. New Bedford is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose New Bedford

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

New Bedford is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,527 a month. Choose New Bedford if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick New Bedford if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 111%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but New Bedford is the city where the forecast fights you less.

New Bedford is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Dallas (72 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the New Bedford report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($63,985). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

New Bedford vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, New Bedford is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, New Bedford offers the better overall package.

Common questions

New Bedford vs Dallas FAQ

Is New Bedford cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in New Bedford is $1,527 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 21% cheaper. Median household income is $54,604 in New Bedford compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, New Bedford or Dallas?: New Bedford is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 109 in Dallas — 34% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, New Bedford or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in New Bedford and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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