What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Bedford has the most kids (23.9% under 18).

Fall River has the most people working from home (7.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Bedford	Fall River
People
Population	100,998Highest	94,082Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37±0.8Lowest 8% below MA	39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4%	19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Fall River and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.5 MA: 7.9%	4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,981±$3kHighest 45% below MA	$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA
	New Bedford and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA	$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA	$1,155±$27Highest 34% below MA
	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	$4,338Highest 28% below MA	$3,953Lowest 34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±3.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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	20.6%Highest MA: 10%	19.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	40.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 15% below MA	26 minHighest 11% below MA
Work from home	5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	7.1%±1.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Fall River and New Bedford 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	#263 of 282 in MA	#262 of 282 in MA
School district	New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	New Bedford High	B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.