Compare towns

Fall River vs Georgetown vs New Bedford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Georgetown has the most people working from home (20.2%).
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureFall RiverGeorgetownNew Bedford
People
Population
94,082
8,474Lowest
100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+3.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
42.8±3.5Highest
7% above MA
37±0.8Lowest
8% below MA
Georgetown and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.5%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
23.9%±1.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
New Bedford and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
18.5%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Georgetown and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
56.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
17%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$151,595±$23kHighest
46% above MA
$56,981±$3k
45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
$651,200±$23kHighest
16% above MA
$357,300±$6kLowest
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
$2,223±$506Highest
26% above MA
$1,137±$26Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$7,272Highest
21% above MA
$4,338
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53.7%±22.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±3.2
MA: 51.8%
Georgetown and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
20.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
84%Highest
MA: 62.5%
40.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
19 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% below MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
25 minLowest
15% below MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
20.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
5.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #140 of 282 in MA #263 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Georgetown New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town B M C Durfee High Georgetown High School New Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
9.3Lowest
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.