Asheville NC vs New Bedford MA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Asheville, NC
North Carolina · Population: N/A
- Median HH IncomeN/A
- Median Home Price$461,425
- UnemploymentN/A
- Bachelor's+N/A
New Bedford, MA
Massachusetts · Population: 100,731
- Median HH Income$56,025
- Median Home Price$439,767
- Unemployment7.6%
- Bachelor's+16.8%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
100,731
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
37.0
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
20.7%
White
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
57.5%
Black
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
6.0%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
1.5%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
24.5%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 100,731 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 37.0 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 20.7% | - |
| White | N/A | 57.5% | - |
| Black | N/A | 6.0% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 1.5% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 24.5% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
$56,025
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
$30,475
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
New Bedford
$85,405
New Bedford +
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
7.6%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
19.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
16.8%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $56,025 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $30,475 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $85,405 | New Bedford + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 7.6% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 19.9% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 16.8% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
New Bedford
$439,767
New Bedford +
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
40.0%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $439,767 | New Bedford + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 40.0% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
New Bedford
326
New Bedford +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
New Bedford
1086
New Bedford +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 326 | New Bedford + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1086 | New Bedford + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
Asheville +
New Bedford
36.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
Asheville +
New Bedford
13.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
Asheville +
New Bedford
22.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
Asheville +
New Bedford
11.1%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Asheville +
New Bedford
16.0%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
Asheville +
New Bedford
21.4%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 36.3% | Asheville + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 13.2% | Asheville + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 22.0% | Asheville + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 11.1% | Asheville + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 16.0% | Asheville + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 21.4% | Asheville + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
New Bedford
51.8°F
New Bedford +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
Asheville +
New Bedford
51.9 in
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | 51.8°F | New Bedford + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | 51.9 in | Asheville + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
New Bedford
7.2 µg/m³
New Bedford +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
New Bedford
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | New Bedford + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
New Bedford
27.2 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 27.2 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
New Bedford offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $439,767. On public safety, New Bedford is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Asheville. New Bedford has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Asheville scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.5%.
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