Living in New Bedford, MA
Mid-size city in Massachusetts
New Bedford is a mid-size city in Massachusetts, home to about 101,000 people, with 1.2 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is New Bedford a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Easy flying: PVD is 25 mi away
- Mild summers: highs around 80°F
- Strong healthcare: 8 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 10 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $3,502 state income tax per resident, 1.3% property tax
- Few dog parks: 2 within 9 mi
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Fewer graduates: 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how New Bedford ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in New Bedford: common questions
What is the cost of living in New Bedford?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $452k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,830 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 102, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in New Bedford?
Massachusetts collects about $3,502 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.3% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is New Bedford safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.8× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in New Bedford?
New Bedford has cold winters: winter days average around 41°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 33″ of snow a year.
Does New Bedford get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.09 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to New Bedford?
The nearest major airport is PVD, about 25 mi away.
How New Bedford scores
Each bar compares New Bedford with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is New Bedford right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.