Compare towns

Fall River vs Moretown vs New Bedford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Moretown has the most people working from home (21.4%).
New Bedford has the most kids (23.9% under 18).

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 RiverMoretownNew Bedford
People
Population
94,082
1,532Lowest
100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
46.8±3.8Highest
20% above U.S.
37±0.8Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Moretown 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
U.S.: 35.7%
58.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
17%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$104,423±$7kHighest
29% above U.S.
$56,981±$3k
29% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11kHighest
19% above U.S.
$380,800±$36k
14% above U.S.
$357,300±$6kLowest
7% above U.S.
Fall River and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27Highest
18% below U.S.
$838±$462Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,137±$26
20% below U.S.
Fall River and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,506Highest
77% above U.S.
$4,338
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
16.1%±14.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
New Bedford and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
40.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA — #263 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Harwood Unified Union School District #60 New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town B M C Durfee High None in town New Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.