United States › Massachusetts › New Bedford CITY
New Bedford Massachusetts · 101,834 residents (2025 est.) · 20.0 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
New Bedford is home to 100,998 people in Massachusetts. Owners hold 40% of the housing stock. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Households here earn about 45% less than in Massachusetts as a whole. There are 5,050 people per square mile. The poverty rate is 20.6%, above the 12.5% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 73%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 93,768 in 2000
101,834 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
5,050 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 4,567 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
90K 93K 96K 99K 102K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 New Bedford Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $56,981
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,569 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,602 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 20.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.464 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.5%
Public administration 2.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.4%
Education & health services 0.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$357,300
+73%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,137
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 43.8% in 2000
59.7% rent
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 43.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 6.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 75.2%(70,520)
Hispanic / Latino 10.2%(9,576)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 54.1%(54,677)
Hispanic / Latino 25.8%(26,070)
from 59 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 57.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 76.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 62.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 71.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 18.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 62.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 13.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 48.4%(19,554)
Women 15+
Never married 42.1%(17,284)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 41.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 9.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 16.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 46.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 49.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 57.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17%(518)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.8%(572)
Share of the 3,043 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to New Bedford Head to head
Compare New Bedford to nearby cities NEW BEDFORD VS
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NEW BEDFORD VS
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NEW BEDFORD VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in New Bedford, Massachusetts? New Bedford, Massachusetts has about 100,998 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in New Bedford, Massachusetts? The typical household in New Bedford, Massachusetts earns about $56,981 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is New Bedford, Massachusetts expensive? In New Bedford, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $357,300, and the typical rent is about $1,137 a month.
How educated are people in New Bedford, Massachusetts? About 17.0% of adults age 25 and over in New Bedford, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in New Bedford, Massachusetts? About 20.6% of people in New Bedford, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has New Bedford, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, New Bedford, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,076 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.
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