Community & Data
New Bedford 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)
42,271Households
$57kMedian household income
~20.4%Foreign-born
Sources: US Census Bureau (data.census.gov).
Population & Households
- Population (ACS 2020-2024): 100,998
- Population (2020 Census): 101,079
- Households: 42,271
- Persons per household: 2.4
- Median age: about 37.0 years
- Foreign-born: about 20.4% of residents
- Homeownership: about 40.3% of units
Race & Ethnicity
- White alone: about 57%
- Hispanic or Latino (any race): about 25%
- Black or African American: about 5.3%
- Asian: about 1.3%
- Two or more races: about 19.0%
- Speak a language other than English at home: about 37.7%
Economy & Education
- Median household income: $56,981
- Poverty rate: about 20.6%
- Median home value: about $324,000
- Top sectors: health care, fishing and seafood, manufacturing, education
- Median gross rent: about $1,137
- 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: 76,037
- Dem / Rep / Unenrolled / Political designations: 19,022 (25.02%) / 4,320 (5.68%) / 51,770 (68.09%) / 925 (1.22%)
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, New Bedford
- MA Secretary of the Commonwealth, Voter Registration
- MA DESE, New Bedford Public Schools
- Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Elections Calendar: August 22, 2026 was the last day to register to vote and change party enrollment for the September 1, 2026 state primary (G. L. c. 51, sections 26 and 28), which is the date this enrollment count is as of.
See how New Bedford fits into the broader Commonwealth.
Updated as of September 13, 2026.
Sources
- Population and demographics: U.S. Census Bureau API, retrieved September 13, 2026.