Question 1

Is New Bedford, MA or Worcester, MA safer?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Worcester, MA has higher-rated schools. New Bedford, MA has a school rating of 7.1/10 and Worcester, MA has a rating of 7.3/10.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Category	New Bedford, MA	Worcester, MA
Housing
Verdict	Think twice	Think twice
Median Price	$280K	N/A
Median Rent	$1K	N/A
Median Income	$52K	N/A
Price Volatility	Moderate	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	22/100 ✓ More walkable	Car-dependent
Transit Score	17/100 ✓ Better transit	Minimal transit
Bike Score	N/A	N/A
Commute	76 min	69 min ✓ Shorter commute
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	F	D+ ✓ Safer
Violent Crime	High	Moderate ✓ Lower risk
Property Crime	High	Moderate ✓ Lower risk
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Moderate	Moderate
Community
Schools	7.1/10	7.3/10 ✓ Better schools
Best for	budget familiesremote workersseaside lovers	First‑time home buyers seeking affordabilityFamilies valuing strong schoolsUrban culture enthusiasts

New Bedford, MA vs Worcester, MA

Bottom line