New Bedford, Massachusetts
Among the top 7% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 14% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 26% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 63% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 93% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 17% of US places
- top 1% for natural disaster risk
- top 1% for walkability
- bottom 3% for violent crime
New Bedford is a city in Massachusetts with about 101,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include natural disaster risk, walkability, and airport distance. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and violent crime.
Official websitenewbedford-ma.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
very cold
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cool
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warm
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v.cold
57%46%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.2 in3.5 in
humid 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$55k36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$53kbetter than 25% of US places
Home Value$291k76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 39% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 22% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.40%better than 29% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
Sales Tax6.25%better than 81% of US places
Estimated total tax burden18.55%better than 10% of US places
Unemployment7.2%better than 24% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)30°F42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation45.9 in63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall32.5 inbetter than 30% of US places
Sunny Days185 daysbetter than 13% of US places
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 58% of US places
Comfortable Days88 daysbetter than 65% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk3.3better than 99% of US places
Air Quality43 AQIbetter than 64% of US places
School Quality94.7better than 84% of US places
Violent Crime2768/100kbetter than 3% of US places
Property Crime1560/100kbetter than 29% of US places
Community
Population100,62099th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age36.830th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5892nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0157th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1219th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)58.3%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)4.8%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)23.4%87th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.3%74th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)12.2%91st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time25 minbetter than 53% of US places
Walkability15.4/20better than 99% of US places
Airport Distance26 mibetter than 84% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.7%better than 38% of US places
Amenities Nearby16.70better than 19% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 37% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is New Bedford an affordable place to live?
- New Bedford is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $53k, better than 25% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in New Bedford?
- The median home value in New Bedford is $291k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in New Bedford?
- Median household income in New Bedford is $55k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in New Bedford?
- Median gross rent in New Bedford is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is New Bedford safe?
- New Bedford is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2768/100k (better than 3%). Property crime is 1560/100k.
- What is the weather like in New Bedford?
- New Bedford averages 72°F in July and 30°F in January, with 45.9 in of annual precipitation and about 185 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in New Bedford?
- Public-school quality in New Bedford is above average, scoring better than 84% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in New Bedford?
- The average one-way commute in New Bedford is 25 min.
Other places in Bristol County
Places near New Bedford
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)