Question 1

Is Lowell, MA or New Bedford, MA cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

New Bedford, MA is cheaper. The median home price in Lowell, MA is approximately $398,900 and in New Bedford, MA it is approximately $280,000 — a difference of $118,900.

Question 2

Is Lowell, MA or New Bedford, MA safer?

Accepted Answer

Lowell, MA scores higher on safety. Lowell, MA has violent crime rated Moderate and property crime rated Moderate. New Bedford, MA has violent crime rated High and property crime rated High.

Question 3

Is Lowell, MA or New Bedford, MA more walkable?

Accepted Answer

New Bedford, MA is more walkable. Lowell, MA has a Walk Score of N/A/100 and New Bedford, MA has a Walk Score of 22/100.

Question 4

Which has better schools, Lowell, MA or New Bedford, MA?

Accepted Answer

Lowell, MA has higher-rated schools. Lowell, MA has a school rating of 7.2/10 and New Bedford, MA has a rating of 7.1/10.

Question 5

Should I live in Lowell, MA or New Bedford, MA?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	Lowell, MA	New Bedford, MA
Housing
Verdict	Good for now	Think twice
Median Price	$399K	$280K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$2K	$1K ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$79K ✓ Higher income	$52K
Price Volatility	Low ✓ More stable	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	Car-dependent	22/100 ✓ More walkable
Transit Score	6/100	17/100 ✓ Better transit
Bike Score	3/100 ✓ More bikeable	N/A
Commute	41 min ✓ Shorter commute	76 min
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+ ✓ Safer	F
Violent Crime	Moderate ✓ Lower risk	High
Property Crime	Moderate ✓ Lower risk	High
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Moderate	Moderate
Community
Schools	7.2/10 ✓ Better schools	7.1/10
Best for	commutersstudentsfamilies	budget familiesremote workersseaside lovers

Lowell, MA vs New Bedford, MA

Bottom line