Massachusetts Living Index
New Bedford
South Shore · pop. 101,079
Working harbor, ferry to the Vineyard, museums, fishing fleet, and a downtown finally getting its footing.
City LifeCoastal Quiet
Livability Index
70
/ 100
Ranks #31 of 194 MA towns
The numbers
Median home
$357k
6.3× household income
Household income
$57k
ACS median
Commute to Boston
55 min
peak driving
Population
101,079
5-yr trend 70/100
How New Bedford scores
Schools
77
Safety
67
Walkability
60
Transit
28
Biking
38
Dining
83
Nightlife
83
Arts & Culture
77
Green Space
58
Diversity
93
Climate
70
The honest read
Best for
Artists and remote workers who want coast access at half of South Shore prices.
The tradeoff
Not a Boston commute; the rail extension is open but the ride is long.
Compare on your terms
These scores reflect a neutral weighting. Your priorities are not neutral. Open the full atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and see where New Bedford lands for you.
Nearby towns
Bordering and adjacent Massachusetts towns near New Bedford.
Popular comparisons
Common head‑to‑heads people search when looking at New Bedford.
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