New Bedford, MA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 100,731 · Massachusetts · Updated May 2026
Population
100,731
Median Income
$56,025
Home Price
$439,767
Unemployment
7.6%
Poverty Rate
19.9%
Bachelor's+
16.8%
Full Demographics — New Bedford, MA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 100,731 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 20.7% | 13.8% | |
| White | 57.5% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 6.0% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 1.5% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 24.5% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $56,025 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $30,475 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $85,405 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 19.9% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 16.8% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $439,767 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.0% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 326 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1086 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 36.3% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.2% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 22.0% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.0% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 21.4% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 51.8°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 51.9 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | New Bedford, MA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 27.2 min | 27.0 min |
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About New Bedford, MA
New Bedford is a city in Massachusetts, United States. With a population of 100,731, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, New Bedford shows stronger violent crime rate (326/100K violent crime vs 380/100K violent crime US avg) and air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 16.8% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.