New Bedford city, Massachusetts
New Bedford city profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
New Bedford city is a geographic entity located in Bristol County, Massachusetts. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 101,834. The land area covers 20.00 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2025 PEP Estimate) | 101,834 | — | 2025 / Census |
| Median Age | 37 yrs | ±0.8 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 42,271 | ±859 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 44,346 | ±790 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 42,271 | ±859 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 2,075 | ±351 |
| Median Home Value | $357,300 | ±$5,595 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,137 | ±$26 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,981 | ±$3,070 |
| Per Capita Income | $30,556 | ±$860 |
| Poverty Rate | 20.6% | ±1.7% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 20,493 | ±1,693 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3% | ±1.3% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 45,599 | ±1,290 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 86.6% | ±0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 101,318 (2024)
ID: 166441
|
Municipal | Official Local Government |
Contact: BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
133 WILLIAM ST, RM 114, NEW BEDFORD MA 02740
|
|
GUS Population: 588,593 (2024)
ID: 128097
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: BRISTOL COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
9 COURT ST, TAUNTON MA 02780-3223
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School New Bedford | KG-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | PK-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | KG-08 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | KG-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | KG-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | PK-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | KG-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | KG-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | KG-05 | New Bedford, MA | |
| Regular School New Bedford | PK-05 | New Bedford, MA |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rob Roy Academy-New Bedford
|
College Vocational | 1.0 mi away | 1872 Acushnet Ave, New Bedford, MA, 02746-2114 |
5089958711
|
|
NEW BEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE
|
Library | 1.1 mi away | 1911 ACUSHNET AVENUE, NEW BEDFORD, MA, 02746 |
(508) 991-6214
|
|
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
|
College | 4.1 mi away | 285 Old Westport Rd, North Dartmouth, MA, 02747-2300 |
5089998000
|
|
WILKS LIBRARY
|
Library | 1.1 mi away | 1911 ACUSHNET AVENUE, NEW BEDFORD, MA, 02746 | — |
|
Bristol Community College
|
College | 10.3 mi away | 777 Elsbree St, Fall River, MA, 02720-7395 |
7743572811
|
|
NEW BEDFORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 1.9 mi away | 613 PLEASANT STREET, NEW BEDFORD, MA, 02740 |
(508) 991-6275
|
|
Rob Roy Academy-Fall River
|
College Vocational | 11.6 mi away | 260 S Main St, Fall River, MA, 02721-5330 |
5086724751
|
|
FRANCIS J. LAWLER BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 2.0 mi away | 745 ROCKDALE AVENUE, NEW BEDFORD, MA, 02740 |
(508) 991-6216
|
|
Diman Regional Technical Institute
|
College Vocational | 11.9 mi away | 1082 Davol St. 2nd floor, Fall River, MA, 02720 |
5086722970113
|
|
CASA DA SAUDADE
|
Library | 2.8 mi away | 58 CRAPO STREET, NEW BEDFORD, MA, 02740 |
(508) 991-6218
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at NEW BEDFORD MUNI AP, MA US, located 1.5 miles from New Bedford city. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39.1° | 20.7° | 29.9° | 3.72" | — |
| February | 40.9° | 21.7° | 31.3° | 3.04" | — |
| March | 47.3° | 27.9° | 37.6° | 4.82" | — |
| April | 57.4° | 36.4° | 46.9° | 4.01" | — |
| May | 67.4° | 46.0° | 56.7° | 3.29" | — |
| June | 76.3° | 55.0° | 65.7° | 3.61" | — |
| July | 82.5° | 61.6° | 72.1° | 3.04" | — |
| August | 81.2° | 60.0° | 70.6° | 3.83" | — |
| September | 74.0° | 52.4° | 63.2° | 3.64" | — |
| October | 63.5° | 41.8° | 52.6° | 4.56" | — |
| November | 53.5° | 33.3° | 43.4° | 4.26" | — |
| December | 44.1° | 26.0° | 35.0° | 4.12" | — |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bedford city | City | 0.0 mi | — |
| Acushnet Center CDP | CDP | 2.3 mi | — |
| Smith Mills CDP | CDP | 3.3 mi | — |
| Bliss Corner CDP | CDP | 3.9 mi | — |
| Mattapoisett Center CDP | CDP | 7.3 mi | — |
| Fall River city | City | 8.9 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 2500545000. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.