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City · 100,998 residents · Bristol County, Massachusetts

New Bedford , Massachusetts

In New Bedford, a typical home is worth $357,300 and typical rent is $1,137 a month. Compared with all of Bristol County, typical household income is 33% lower, the typical home value is 21% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 22 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $357,300

    21% below the county

    36% below Massachusetts

    • New Bedford
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical rent

    $1,137a month

    9% below the county

    35% below Massachusetts

    • New Bedford
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical household income

    $56,981a year

    33% below the county

    45% below Massachusetts

    • New Bedford
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

  • Households that own their home

    40%

    22 points below the county

    22 points below Massachusetts

    • New Bedford
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$439,098
3.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,811 a month
2.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

New Bedford is in Bristol County. The FHA loan limit ($787,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Bristol County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets New Bedford apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 40% of households in New Bedford own their home, against 62% in Bristol County.

  2. The typical household income in New Bedford is $56,981, 33% less than in Bristol County as a whole ($85,625).

  3. The typical home in New Bedford is worth $357,300, 21% less than in Bristol County as a whole ($451,200).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in New Bedford

What homes there are in New Bedford, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In New Bedford there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are buildings of 2 to 4 homes (47%), more than in Bristol County (25%).

Year built

The typical home in New Bedford was built before 1940, the oldest group the Census tells apart; 68% of homes date from before 1960.

There are fewer big homes in New Bedford than in Bristol County: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $787,750, at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in New Bedford sit below it: they are worth less than $750,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Bristol County is $1,879; about 90% of rents in New Bedford are below it.

With a mortgage

$2,041 a month

Bristol County: $2,394 a month

Without a mortgage

$830 a month

Bristol County: $886 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Bristol County: 66%

In New Bedford, 66% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,041 a month, against $2,394 in Bristol County. Without one it drops to $830.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in New Bedford gained value faster than in Bristol County: 58% against 51%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in New Bedford rose 34%, less than in Bristol County (38%).

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 23%, while home values changed +58% and rent +34%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureNew BedfordBristol CountyMassachusettsUnited States
Rental vacancy 2.4%2.1%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.3%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.2%2.1%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.352.432.442.53
Drive alone 72%75%61%69%
Carpool 15%9%7%9%
Public transit 3%2%7%3%
Walk or bike 3%2%5%3%
Work from home 5%11%19%15%
Other means 2%1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Bristol County, the rental vacancy rate in New Bedford is 2.4%.

More households are short on space in New Bedford: 3.2% have more than one person per room; in Bristol County, 2.1%.

Much as in Bristol County, a household in New Bedford has 2.35 people on average.

Carpooling is common in New Bedford: 15% of workers get to work that way, against 9% in Bristol County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in New Bedford?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in New Bedford, worth $357,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 64% of the typical household income in New Bedford, which is $56,981 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $130,449 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Bristol County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in New Bedford. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,506 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,044

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$350,828
Total interest
$504,759
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,034 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,330 a month

  • Tight

    $1,330 to $1,709 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,709 a month

    Your payment · 64%

Compared with the typical household income in New Bedford ($56,981 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,044
Principal & interest$2,377
Property tax$360
Home insurance$149
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$158

You need at least $12,506 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

New Bedford and Bristol County

New Bedford is in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

New Bedford's own numbers

Typical home value
$357,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,137
Typical yearly household income
$56,981
Households that own their home
40%
Effective property tax rate
1.21%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Bristol County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$787,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,668–$2,589
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.9%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Bristol County.

Everything about Bristol County

Buying

Buying a home in New Bedford

A typical home in New Bedford is worth $357,300: 21% below the county and 36% below Massachusetts. With the typical household income in New Bedford ($56,981 a year), a typical home costs 6.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • New Bedford 6.3 years
  • Bristol 5.3 years
  • Massachusetts 5.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Bristol County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Bristol County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Bristol County.

Period County Massachusetts U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.1% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +93% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

New Bedford next to Bristol County, Massachusetts and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • New Bedford $357,300
  • Bristol $451,200
  • Massachusetts $562,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • New Bedford $1,137
  • Bristol $1,245
  • Massachusetts $1,762
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • New Bedford $56,981
  • Bristol $85,625
  • Massachusetts $103,960
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
New Bedford next to Bristol County and Massachusetts
Measure New Bedford Bristol County Massachusetts U.S.
Typical home value $357,300 $451,200 $562,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,137 $1,245 $1,762 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $56,981 $85,625 $103,960 $80,734
Households that own their home 40% 62% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,338 $4,807 $5,992 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.21% 1.07% 1.07% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 53% 52% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Bristol County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in New Bedford

For a typical $357,300 home in New Bedford, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, New Bedford's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,044a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,506
    Cash to close
    $23,225
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $158

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,978a month

    Down payment
    $17,865
    Cash to close
    $28,584
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $170

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,446a month

    Down payment
    $71,460
    Cash to close
    $82,179
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,776a month

    Down payment
    $53,595
    Cash to close
    $64,314
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for New Bedford and for Bristol County.

Property tax

Effective rate in New Bedford

1.21%of the home’s value each year

$4,338 a year for the typical owner in New Bedford.

  • New Bedford 1.21%
  • Bristol 1.07%
  • Massachusetts 1.07%

What Massachusetts publishes Local senior exemption (clause 41C) (Massachusetts General Court (General Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Massachusetts

Flood risk in Bristol County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Bristol County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.9%
3,805
Of those, with NFIP insurance
56%
County Massachusetts U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.9% 3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 56% 50% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in New Bedford

Typical rent in New Bedford is $1,137 a month: 9% below the county. In New Bedford, 53% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Bristol County; New Bedford is in New Bedford, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,668 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $32.08 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in New Bedford, MA HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,297 $24.94 $51,880
1 bedroom $1,305 $25.10 $52,200
2 bedrooms $1,668 $32.08 $66,720
3 bedrooms $1,987 $38.21 $79,480
4 bedrooms $2,524 $48.54 $100,960

HUD splits this county into 4 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $1,668 to $2,589. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Bristol County

HUD splits this county into 4 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people live
8 towns in this area

Attleboro city, Fall River city, North Attleborough Town city, Rehoboth town, Seekonk town, Somerset town, Swansea town, Westport town

 $1,423$1,509$1,879$2,302$2,615$36.13
New Bedford, MA HUD Metro FMR Area New Bedford is in this area
5 towns in this area

Acushnet town, Dartmouth town, Fairhaven town, Freetown town, New Bedford city

 $1,297$1,305$1,668$1,987$2,524$32.08
Taunton-Mansfield-Norton, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
5 towns in this area

Berkley town, Dighton town, Mansfield town, Norton town, Taunton city

 $1,517$1,666$2,179$2,596$2,864$41.90
Easton-Raynham, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
2 towns in this area

Easton town, Raynham town

 $1,971$2,209$2,589$3,085$3,651$49.79

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in New Bedford

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). New Bedford has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,580 in 02740 to $1,660 in 02746.

  • 02740 $1,580$1,880
  • 02744 $1,650$1,970
  • 02745 $1,610$1,920
  • 02746 $1,660$1,980

A ZIP code counts for New Bedford when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in New Bedford

HUD lists 43 buildings with rents for lower incomes in New Bedford. These are the largest.

  • Melville Towers 850 Pleasant St, New Bedford 320 low-income homes · 1 bd: 280 · 2 bd: 40 · In service since 2007 · For older adults
  • Melville Towers 850 Pleasant St, New Bedford 02740 320 homes, 319 low-income · For older adults
  • Brickenwood 18 Walker St, New Bedford 02746 300 low-income homes · Run by New Bedford Housing Authority · Average payment: $743 a month · Average wait: 38 months (508) 997-4806
  • Bay Village 65 S 1st St, New Bedford 02740 283 homes, 280 low-income · Run by New Bedford Housing Authority · Average payment: $697 a month · Average wait: 63 months (508) 997-4806
  • Presidential Heights 14 Adams St, New Bedford 02746 228 homes, 226 low-income · Run by New Bedford Housing Authority · Average payment: $653 a month · Average wait: 50 months (508) 997-4806

See all 125 buildings in Bristol County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in New Bedford

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Bristol County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in New Bedford

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for New Bedford or Bristol County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in New Bedford the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Massachusetts

  • MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income. Offered by MassHousing.

    DeferredRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near New Bedford

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of New Bedford, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Catholic Social Services - Fall River

    1600 Bay St, Fall River · 13 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Portuguese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (508) 674-4681

  • Housing Assistance Corp.

    460 W Main St, Hyannis · 32 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (508) 771-5400

  • Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc.

    1509 Hancock St, Quincy · 41 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 5 more
    (617) 479-8181

Every agency in Bristol County All counseling agencies in Massachusetts

Help in Spanish near New Bedford

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of New Bedford

HUD’s record names them for New Bedford or Bristol County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • New Bedford Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (508) 997-4806

8 other authorities have an office in Bristol County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Bristol County

These cities are also in Bristol County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Bristol County Housing in Massachusetts

Nearby cities

The cities closest to New Bedford, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Bristol County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in New Bedford.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about New Bedford

Short answers with the numbers for New Bedford and all of Bristol County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in New Bedford?

The typical home value in New Bedford is $357,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Bristol County it is $451,200.

How much does it cost to rent in New Bedford?

Typical rent in New Bedford is $1,137 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Bristol County is $1,668–$2,589.

What is the FHA loan limit in New Bedford?

New Bedford uses the FHA limit for all of Bristol County (2026): $787,750 for a one-unit home and $1,514,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in New Bedford?

The typical homeowner in New Bedford pays $4,338 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.21% of the home’s value; in Bristol County, the rate is 1.07%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in New Bedford?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Bristol County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).