City Comparison

Concord vs New Bedford

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

California
147
Expensive
$680,000
Median Home
$2,350/mo
Median Rent
$109,000
Median Income

New Bedford

Massachusetts
112
Above Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

The Verdict

31.3%

New Bedford is 31.3% less expensive than Concord overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $57,143 in New Bedford to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
210
Concord
116
New Bedford
Groceries
112
Concord
104
New Bedford
Utilities
147
Concord
145
New Bedford
Transportation
137
Concord
108
New Bedford
Healthcare
121
Concord
118
New Bedford

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $57,143 in New Bedford.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $98,438 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs New Bedford

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 210 is higher New Bedford's 116, translating to median home prices of $680,000 vs $371,000. The $309,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,088 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,225/mo in New Bedford, a monthly difference of $1,125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 112 in Concord and 104 in New Bedford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $532/month in Concord vs $494/month in New Bedford. New Bedford offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 147 in Concord and 145 in New Bedford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $588 in Concord vs $580 in New Bedford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 121 in Concord and 118 in New Bedford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $109,000 in Concord and $57,000 in New Bedford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $74,150 and $50,893 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,543/month to housing in Concord vs $1,330/month in New Bedford. In Concord, median rent of $2,350/mo fits within this budget. In New Bedford, median rent of $1,225/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 94 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

New Bedford is 31.3% more affordable overall with an index of 112 vs 147.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $57,143 in New Bedford, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 210 with median homes at $680,000, while New Bedford's is 116 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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