United States › Massachusetts › New Bedford CITY · 2000 CENSUS
New Bedford Massachusetts · 93,768 residents · 20.0 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
New Bedford is a city of 93,768 people in Massachusetts. Owners hold 44% of the housing stock. Households here earn about 45% less than in Massachusetts as a whole. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. The poverty rate is 20.2%, above the 12.4% national rate. Households take in $27,569 at the median, 35% less than the US figure.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.9
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 33.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
90K 93K 96K 99K 102K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 New Bedford Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $27,569
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $22,647 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $10,923 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 16.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$113,500
−25%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $114,900 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$455
−15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $404 in 1990
US average: $602
from 43.8% in 1990
56.2% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 87.8%(87,758)
Hispanic / Latino 5.6%(5,622)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 75.2%(70,520)
Hispanic / Latino 10.2%(9,576)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data from 9.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 49.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 2.8% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 35.2%(12,050)
Women 15+
Never married 27.7%(11,151)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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 93,768 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in New Bedford, Massachusetts? The typical household in New Bedford, Massachusetts earns about $27,569 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 $113,500, and the typical rent is about $455 a month.
How educated are people in New Bedford, Massachusetts? About 10.7% 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 20.2% of people in New Bedford, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has New Bedford, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, New Bedford, Massachusetts has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,154 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.
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