El Paso TX 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)
El Paso, TX
Texas · Population: 678,147
- Median HH Income$58,734
- Median Home Price$235,994
- Unemployment6.2%
- Bachelor's+27.5%
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
El Paso
678,147
El Paso +
New Bedford
100,731
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
El Paso
N/A
New Bedford
N/A
Median Age
El Paso
34.1
El Paso +
New Bedford
37.0
Foreign Born
El Paso
22.3%
El Paso +
New Bedford
20.7%
White
El Paso
39.3%
New Bedford
57.5%
New Bedford +
Black
El Paso
3.6%
New Bedford
6.0%
New Bedford +
Asian
El Paso
1.5%
New Bedford
1.5%
New Bedford +
Hispanic
El Paso
81.3%
El Paso +
New Bedford
24.5%
Spanish at Home
El Paso
N/A
New Bedford
N/A
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 678,147 | 100,731 | El Paso + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.0 | El Paso + |
| Foreign Born | 22.3% | 20.7% | El Paso + |
| White | 39.3% | 57.5% | New Bedford + |
| Black | 3.6% | 6.0% | New Bedford + |
| Asian | 1.5% | 1.5% | New Bedford + |
| Hispanic | 81.3% | 24.5% | El Paso + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
El Paso
$58,734
El Paso +
New Bedford
$56,025
Per Capita Income
El Paso
$28,942
New Bedford
$30,475
New Bedford +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
El Paso
$63,758
New Bedford
$85,405
New Bedford +
Unemployment Rate
El Paso
6.2%
El Paso +
New Bedford
7.6%
Poverty Rate
El Paso
18.4%
El Paso +
New Bedford
19.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
El Paso
27.5%
El Paso +
New Bedford
16.8%
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $58,734 | $56,025 | El Paso + |
| Per Capita Income | $28,942 | $30,475 | New Bedford + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $85,405 | New Bedford + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 7.6% | El Paso + |
| Poverty Rate | 18.4% | 19.9% | El Paso + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 27.5% | 16.8% | El Paso + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
El Paso
$235,994
El Paso +
New Bedford
$439,767
Homeownership Rate
El Paso
60.2%
El Paso +
New Bedford
40.0%
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $235,994 | $439,767 | El Paso + |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 40.0% | El Paso + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
442
New Bedford
326
New Bedford +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
2339
New Bedford
1086
New Bedford +
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 326 | New Bedford + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 1086 | New Bedford + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
33.8%
El Paso +
New Bedford
36.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.4%
New Bedford
13.2%
New Bedford +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
El Paso
17.2%
El Paso +
New Bedford
22.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
El Paso
27.9%
New Bedford
11.1%
New Bedford +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.5%
New Bedford
16.0%
New Bedford +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
El Paso
12.2%
El Paso +
New Bedford
21.4%
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 33.8% | 36.3% | El Paso + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 16.4% | 13.2% | New Bedford + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.2% | 22.0% | El Paso + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 27.9% | 11.1% | New Bedford + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.5% | 16.0% | New Bedford + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 21.4% | El Paso + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
64.3°F
New Bedford
51.8°F
New Bedford +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
10.5 in
El Paso +
New Bedford
51.9 in
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 64.3°F | 51.8°F | New Bedford + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 10.5 in | 51.9 in | El Paso + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
El Paso
9.2 µg/m³
New Bedford
7.2 µg/m³
New Bedford +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
El Paso
55.0%
New Bedford
75.0%
New Bedford +
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | New Bedford + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | New Bedford + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
El Paso
25.1 min
El Paso +
New Bedford
27.2 min
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Bedford, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 25.1 min | 27.2 min | El Paso + |
Which City is Right for You?
El Paso leads in median household income at $58,734, while el Paso offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $235,994. On public safety, New Bedford is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in El Paso. El Paso has a lower unemployment rate at 6.2%, and New Bedford has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, El Paso scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.8%.
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