Best Life Index › States › Massachusetts › Cities › New Bedford

Massachusetts city profile

What Is It Like to Live in New Bedford?

What it costs to live in New Bedford, and how it compares with other Massachusetts cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

23

71st best value in Massachusetts

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Massachusetts cities.

Overall livability

18

79th overall in Massachusetts

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

New Bedford is home to about 100,309 people. A typical home runs $258,300 and a household earns around $50,600, a price-to-income ratio of 5.1. Among Massachusetts's largest cities, it ranks 71st for value and 79th overall.

New Bedford at a glance

Median home price

$258,300

47th in MA of 80

Median rent

$936/mo

Median household income

$50,600

Home price to income

5.1x

Unemployment

7.5%

72nd in MA of 80

School rating

3/10

77th in MA of 80

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in MA of 80

Walk score

11/100

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‹ See all top Massachusetts cities ranked  ยท  Massachusetts state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Massachusetts only. Updated 2026.