Compare towns

Fall River vs Newfields vs Sutton 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 RiverNewfieldsSuttonNew Bedford
People
Population
94,082
2,023Lowest
9,452
100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
37±0.8Lowest
5% below U.S.
Sutton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
17%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
$56,981±$3k
29% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11k
19% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$357,300±$6kLowest
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27
18% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,137±$26Lowest
20% below U.S.
Newfields and Sutton 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$4,338
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
40.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
5.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA — #105 of 282 in MA #263 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Newfields School District Sutton New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town B M C Durfee High None in town Sutton High School New Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
12.6
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.