Community & Data
Demographics
A Portrait of New Bedford
New Bedford is the largest city on the Massachusetts South Coast and one of its most diverse. A historic port built by waves of immigrants, it remains a gateway community with deep Portuguese, Cape Verdean, and Hispanic roots; about one in five residents was born outside the United States. Figures below are from the U.S. Census Bureau; follow the source links for the latest.
Key Figures
101,079Population (2020)
42,233Households
$56kMedian household income
~21%Foreign-born
Sources: US Census Bureau (data.census.gov).
Population & Households
- Population (recent estimate): about 100,700
- Population (2020 Census): 101,079
- Households: 42,233
- Persons per household: 2.3
- Median age: about 37 years
- Foreign-born: about 21% of residents
- Homeownership: about 40% of units
Race & Ethnicity
- White alone: about 57%
- Hispanic or Latino (any race): about 25%
- Black or African American: about 6%
- Asian: about 2%
- Two or more races: about 18%
- Speak a language other than English at home: about 38%
Economy & Education
- Median household income: about $56,000
- Poverty rate: about 20%
- Median home value: about $324,000
- Top sectors: health care, fishing and seafood, manufacturing, education
- Median gross rent: about $1,085
- Veterans: about 5% of adults
Registered Voters
Massachusetts publishes voter-registration counts by city through the Secretary of the Commonwealth. New Bedford’s enrollment divides among Democrats, Republicans, and Unenrolled (independent) voters, the largest group.
- Total registered: 71,671
- Dem / Rep / Unenrolled: 19,829 (27.67%) / 4,318 (6.02%) / 46,556 (64.96%)
Sources
See how New Bedford fits into the broader Commonwealth.