Compare towns
Fall River vs Sutton vs Newfields 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).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.
| Measure | Fall River | Sutton | Newfields | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
9,452 |
2,023Lowest |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$357,300±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,338 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest 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 | Sutton | Newfields School District | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Sutton High School | None in town | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.6 |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.