Is New Bedford cheaper than Nashville?

Yes. Typical rent in New Bedford is $1,527 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $54,604 in New Bedford compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Nashville has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, New Bedford or Nashville?

New Bedford is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 140 in Nashville — 49% 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 Nashville?

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

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City comparison

New Bedford, MA vs Nashville, TN

New Bedford, MA versus Nashville, TN 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 $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $54,604 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

New Bedford takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Nashville takes job market. The widest gap is crime index, where New Bedford leads by 49% — 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 Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the New Bedford and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full New Bedford report Full Nashville report

New Bedford, MA

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

Nashville, TN

Rent: $1,730/mo
Median income: $71,328
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

12% cheaper

New Bedford rent is 12% cheaper than Nashville

New Bedford

Winner

$1,527/mo

Nashville

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,527 a month in New Bedford versus $1,730 in Nashville, so New Bedford is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,436 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. New Bedford still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Nashville.

Median income

31% higher

Nashville's median income is 31% higher than New Bedford

New Bedford

$54,604

Nashville

Winner

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,328 in Nashville versus $54,604 in New Bedford, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Nashville — about $16,724 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, Nashville 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

49% lower crime

New Bedford's crime index is 49% lower than Nashville

New Bedford

Winner

72 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

New Bedford's crime index is 72 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Nashville 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 Nashville are about even on school scores.

New Bedford

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in New Bedford, A- in Nashville). 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

22% more comfortable

New Bedford weather is 22% more comfortable than Nashville

New Bedford

Winner

68°F typical

Nashville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

New Bedford scores 22% 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 79°F in Nashville. New Bedford reads as mild, livable temperatures; Nashville reads as warm weather most of the year. 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. Nashville 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 12% 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 Nashville on this page's weather index by 22%. Nashville 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 49% lower than Nashville (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 Nashville

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 31% higher here ($71,328). Start with Nashville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

New Bedford vs Nashville, called

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

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

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

Common questions

New Bedford vs Nashville FAQ

Is New Bedford cheaper than Nashville?: Yes. Typical rent in New Bedford is $1,527 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $54,604 in New Bedford compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Nashville has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, New Bedford or Nashville?: New Bedford is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 140 in Nashville — 49% 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 Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in New Bedford and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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