The Town FilesNew Bedford, Massachusetts
City in Bristol County · population 101,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $357,300
- Household income
- $56,981
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 37.0
New Bedford is a city of 101,079 people in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $357,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 96% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 81% of Massachusetts towns.
How New Bedford ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in New Bedford is worth $357,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $56,981, which is more affordable than 16% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,137 a month. 40.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Bedford | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $357,300 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,137 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $56,981 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 40.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in New Bedford
| People | New Bedford | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in New Bedford
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Bedford since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1970 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 9, 1968.
Severe weather in Bristol County since 1996
Bristol County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bristol County
Bristol County had 227,971 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,669 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in New Bedford itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in New Bedford
27 public schools with 16,178 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bedford High | 9-12 | 2,893 | 14.4 |
| Gr New Bedford Vocational Technical | 9-12 | 2,147 | 11.0 |
| Alma del Mar Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 1,041 | 12.2 |
| Normandin Middle School | 6-8 | 1,038 | 12.8 |
| Keith Middle School | 6-8 | 872 | 10.4 |
| Roosevelt Middle School | 6-8 | 788 | 11.4 |
| Hayden/McFadden | PK-5 | 713 | 12.7 |
| Abraham Lincoln | K-5 | 672 | 14.3 |
| Sgt Wm H Carney Academy | PK-5 | 613 | 12.0 |
| Alfred J Gomes | PK-5 | 610 | 11.1 |
| Casimir Pulaski | PK-5 | 560 | 13.0 |
| Global Learning Charter Public School (charter) | 5-12 | 502 | 11.7 |
Towns near New Bedford
- Acushnet Center, MA2.3 mi · 3,030 people · home $378,900
- Smith Mills, MA3.3 mi · 4,832 people · home $420,400
- Bliss Corner, MA3.9 mi · 5,480 people · home $446,200
- Fairhaven, MA3.9 mi · 15,924 people · home $446,700
- Acushnet, MA4.4 mi · 10,559 people · home $436,400
- Mattapoisett, MA6.5 mi · 6,508 people · home $681,600
- Dartmouth, MA6.6 mi · 33,783 people · home $496,500
- Mattapoisett Center, MA7.2 mi · 3,190 people · home $651,900
New Bedford questions
Is New Bedford, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Bedford scores better for retirees than 1% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 2%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in New Bedford?
The median owner-occupied home in New Bedford is valued at $357,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,981, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $1,137 a month.
What is the weather like in New Bedford?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 32.5 inches of snow.
Does New Bedford get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Bedford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1970. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)