Compare towns
New Bedford vs Springfield vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Springfield | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 100,998 |
154,749Highest |
94,082Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±0.8 8% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,981±$3kHighest 45% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$56,673±$3k 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±$6k 36% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,155±$27Highest 34% below MA |
| Fall River and Springfield 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±3.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 40.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 minHighest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Springfield and Fall River 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | New Bedford High | Springfield Central High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.2 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.