New Bedford MA
Massachusetts · Pop. 100,998
New Bedford, MA: median household income of $56,981, median rent of $1,137/mo, 8.3% unemployment. Our verdict: Needs Work.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$56,981
per year
Median Rent
$1,137
per month
Median Home
$357k
home value
Unemployment
8.3%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
20.6%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
25 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"New Bedford, MA Reality Check"
In New Bedford, the rent-to-income burden runs around 24% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $56,981 and median rent is $1,137/month. 51% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $357,300 — that's 6.3× the median income. Only 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The economy runs on trades, logistics, and service work — and the wages reflect that. Employment picture: 8.28% unemployment — a softer job market. Poverty rate: 20.6% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 25 minutes — acceptable. New Bedford was founded in 1640 — that's 386 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 24.1 sq miles at 4,186 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 49 ft — essentially flat — floods are a real conversation. RoastMyCity overall score: 53/100 — Needs Work.