New Bedford, MA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Massachusetts·New Bedford

Bristol County · Providence-Warwick · population 101,318

New Bedford, MA
Image: Wikipedia · New Bedford, Massachusetts
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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72
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where New Bedford stands

At or near all-time high. rents up 7.8% in the last year.

Median home $439,767
1-year +2.7%
5-yr CAGR +6.9%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +0.1%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$440k$187k$277k$367k$457k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
64/100
Somewhat walkable
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
30/100
Minimal transit
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
76/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,962/mo$1,280$1,682$2,084202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent131144100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 18.7
Lean buy

At a 18.7 price-to-rent ratio, New Bedford is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
63 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
74 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
46 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
82 · w10%
Long thesis

New Bedford has held up across the cycle: home values at $439,767 with +6.9% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

New Bedford's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About New Bedford

New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, with an estimated population of 101,318. It anchors the Providence-Warwick metro area. The median home value in New Bedford is $439,767 as of 2026-04, up 2.7% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.9% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in New Bedford average $1,962 per month, up 7.8% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 72 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Healthy 5-year run: +6.9% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +2.7% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
●Hot rental market: rents up 7.8% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

▼ Bear case

●Rental squeeze: rents up 7.8% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About New Bedford (Wikipedia)

New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region, abutting Buzzards Bay. At the 2020 census, New Bedford had a population of 101,079, making it the state's ninth-largest city and the largest of the South Coast region. It is the second-largest city in the Providence metropolitan area and included in the greater Boston combined statistical area.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

City facts

Area24.13 sq mi
Elevation50 ft
Settled1652
Nickname"The Whaling City"
Motto''Lucem Diffundo'' (Latin)"I Diffuse Light"
Density5053.70/sq mi

Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.

Things to see in New Bedford(Tourism)

  • Feast of the Blessed Sacrament
  • New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
  • Buttonwood Park Zoo
  • Fairfield Inn and Suites

Extracted from the Wikipedia article. Names linked in the source — open the city’s Wikipedia page for details.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Bristol County right now.

NWS active alerts (MA)Massachusetts Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Bristol County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like New Bedford

Lawrence, MA69 · RisingHaverhill, MA68 · RisingSpringfield, MA72 · RisingAttleboro, MA71 · Rising

Run the numbers for New Bedford

ToolCan I afford New Bedford?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a New Bedford rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare New Bedford to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolNew Bedford cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
35° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
81° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
200
~55% of year
Annual precip
48″ rain
43″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Moderate
Tornado
Low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Providence-Warwick area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current New Bedford listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
70%
Humid climate
Median household income
$96,500
Massachusetts state median
Top industries (state-level)
TechBiotechEducation/Healthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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