City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

New Bedford, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for New Bedford - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

100,731
Residents
$56,025
Median income
$324,400
Median home
$1,527
Median rent (state)

New Bedford - the verdict

Nationally, New Bedford sits in the 29th percentile for household income and the 39th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

29th
percentile, household income
68th
percentile, home value
60th
percentile, median rent
39th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: New Bedford, MA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 100,731 residents in New Bedford, a mid-sized U.S. city within Massachusetts. The typical household in New Bedford brings in $56,025 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 16.7%. Home values in New Bedford run a median of $324,400, and the median resident age is 37.0 years. Educational attainment runs 16.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 57.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 7 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 67% from five years earlier. New Bedford reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1712.3 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 52.4°F with 52.2 inches of precipitation per year and 32.5 inches of snowfall.

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Massachusetts at 105.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,527 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Massachusetts run around $330, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 89.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

100,731 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$56,025 /yr

Poverty 16.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does New Bedford compare to other US cities?

Where New Bedford sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 68% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% pricier than other cities
Safety 39% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Massachusetts and the picture shifts: New Bedford ranks #126 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below New Bedford's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Massachusetts, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

29thIncome percentile
39thSafety percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income · 39th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

New Bedford's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

New Bedford's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
New Bedford's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How New Bedford's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$324,400 32nd percentile more affordable than 32% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. New Bedford $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - New Bedford, MA New Bedford, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not New Bedford, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution New Bedford, MA median $56,025/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
New Bedford, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for New Bedford, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
100,731
Median Income
$56,025
Median Home Value
$324,400
Median Age
37.0
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Labor force participation
57.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1712.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
353.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1359.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
52.4°F
Annual Precipitation
52.2"
Annual Snowfall
32.5"

Schools

Total Schools
28
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
100,500 residents101,000 residents101,500 residents102,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 100,909 residents 101,834 residents ▲ +0.9%
New Bedford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 21
2020 33
2021 30
2022 17
2023 20
2024 7

Permit volume decreased 67% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.8%
Carpool
15.3%
Public Transit
2.6%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
4.7%
Other
2.1%

Based on 44,551 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county New Bedford sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,527/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Lynn
100,905 people
Quincy
101,361 people
Brockton
105,080 people
Fall River
93,764 people
Newton
88,504 people
Lawrence
88,297 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to New Bedford's 100,731 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Norwalk, CA
100,713 people
Fishers, IN
100,918 people
Carmel, IN
100,501 people
Davenport, IA
101,083 people
Hesperia, CA
100,141 people
Albany, NY
100,081 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to New Bedford's $56,025 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Stirling, CA
$56,026 median income
Damascus, GA
$56,023 median income
Winona, KS
$56,023 median income
Foster Center, RI
$56,027 median income
Roseville, IL
$56,029 median income
Smithville, TX
$56,031 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - New Bedford, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition New Bedford, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 57.5% 16.7% 17.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 24.5% White 57.5% Black or African American 6.0% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 16.7% Two or more races 17.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How New Bedford compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
New Bedford (this city) 100,731 $56,025
Lynn 100,905 $74,715
Quincy 101,361 $95,711
Brockton 105,080 $77,089
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about New Bedford, MA?

What is the population of New Bedford, MA? +

100,731 people live in New Bedford, MA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in New Bedford, MA? +

The median household income in New Bedford is $56,025 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in New Bedford? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for New Bedford; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is New Bedford, MA safe? +

New Bedford has a total crime rate of 1712.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in New Bedford, MA? +

New Bedford's median home value sits at $324,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in New Bedford? +

Climate normals put New Bedford's yearly average temperature at 52.4°F, 52.2 inches of precipitation, and 32.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.