Compare towns
New Bedford vs Newfields vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | New Bedford | Newfields | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 100,998 |
2,023Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| New Bedford and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,981±$3kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$26Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,338Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Bedford and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #263 of 282 in MA | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical | Newfields School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | New Bedford High | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.