New Bedford, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 100,998 Household income: $56,981 Rent: $1,137

Overview

Total population

100,998

Rent

$1,137

Year built

1938

Household income

$56,981

Per capita income

$30,556

Poverty rate

20.6%

Unemployment rate

6.0%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

100,998

Adults over 25

67,657

Total households

42,271

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$56,981

Per capita income

$30,556

Poverty rate

20.6%

Unemployment rate

6.0%

Rent over 30% of income

50.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,137

Year built

1938

Households that rent

59.7%

Households that own

40.3%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

56.1%

Black

5.3%

Asian

1.3%

Two or more races

19%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

25.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

74.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

94.6%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

5.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

34.7%

High school graduate or GED

34.7%

Some college or associate degree

13.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

17%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of New Bedford, MA with: Massachusetts United States

New Bedford, MA

Total population100,998

Rent$1,137

Year built1938

Household income$56,981

Per capita income$30,556

Poverty rate20.6%

Unemployment rate6.0%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityNew Bedford, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	100,998	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$1,137	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1938	1964	1980
Household income	$56,981	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,556	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	20.6%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	6.0%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of New Bedford, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for New Bedford, MA

New Bedford is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In New Bedford, the typical monthly rent is $1,137 and the typical household income is $56,981. Rent here is lower than in both Massachusetts and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 20.6%, which is higher than in both Massachusetts and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 59.7% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 50.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 17% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 6.0%, which is higher than both Massachusetts and the national rate.

New Bedford, MA — Rent vs Household Income

New Bedford, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How New Bedford, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,137	1 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$56,981	21 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	20.6%	22 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	6%	21 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for New Bedford, MA

Rent

Rent prices put New Bedford in 1st place among 23 large communities in Massachusetts. Across Massachusetts, rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA up to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

For median household income, New Bedford is ranked 21st out of 23 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $52,656 in Springfield, MA to $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, New Bedford is ranked 22nd among 23 major areas. Across Massachusetts, poverty runs from 4.5% in Newton, MA to 25.8% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put New Bedford in 21st place among 23 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 3.1% in Somerville, MA to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in New Bedford, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,137 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in New Bedford, MA

Annual Household Income: $56,981

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in New Bedford, MA

Estimated Rate: 20.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in New Bedford, MA

In New Bedford, MA, households that rent: 25,231 (59.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	25,231	59.7%
Owner-Occupied	17,040	40.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in New Bedford, MA

In New Bedford, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 12,754 (50.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	12,754	50.5%
Other renter households	12,477	49.5%
Total renter households	25,231	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in New Bedford, MA

Less than High School: 23,472 people (34.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 23,501 people (34.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,190 people (13.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 11,494 people (17%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 67,657

📊 Unemployment Rate in New Bedford, MA

Estimated Rate: 6.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Fishers, IN100,918 Davenport, IA101,083 Lynn, MA100,905 Norwalk, CA100,713 Quincy, MA101,361 Bend, OR101,472 Carmel, IN100,501 Hesperia, CA100,141 Albany, NY100,081 Chico, CA102,032

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.