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New Bedford, Massachusetts: crime rate and local statistics
The violent-crime rate in New Bedford was 3.4 per 1,000 residents in 2025, 13% higher than the statewide rate (3.0). The median household income is $56,981 and the median home value is $357,300. About 100,998 people live in New Bedford.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income by neighborhood · home values · schools
What is the crime rate in New Bedford?
In 2025 the New Bedford Police Department reported 347 violent crimes to the FBI, which works out to 3.4 per 1,000 people. That is 13% higher than the Massachusetts rate (3.0), and close to the national rate (3.3). Its murder count for the year was 4. There were also 1,565 property crimes, a rate of 15.5 per 1,000. Violent crimes fell 44% between 2021 and 2025 (616 to 347).
| Offense (2025) | New Bedford count | Per 1,000 | Massachusetts per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 347 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| Murder | 4 | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Rape | 51 | 0.50 | 0.27 | 0.36 |
| Robbery | 68 | 0.67 | 0.34 | 0.49 |
| Aggravated assault | 224 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Property crime | 1,565 | 15.5 | 10.3 | 15.3 |
| Burglary | 197 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,108 | 11.0 | 8.3 | 11.4 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 260 | 2.6 | 0.88 | 2.0 |
How has crime in New Bedford changed since 2021?
| Year | Violent crimes | Property crimes | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 616 | 1,650 | 4 |
| 2022 | 635 | 1,582 | 4 |
| 2023 | 510 | 1,566 | 4 |
| 2024 | 363 | 1,395 | 7 |
| 2025 | 347 | 1,565 | 4 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. City figures are the New Bedford Police Department's own reports.
How does New Bedford compare with Massachusetts?
The median household income in New Bedford is $56,981, 45% lower than the Massachusetts median ($103,960). Owner-occupied homes have a median value of $357,300, and half of renters pay more than $1,137 a month. About 100,998 people live on 20 square miles of land, roughly 5,049 per square mile. The city lies in Bristol County.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | New Bedford | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 100,998 | 7,044,056 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $56,981 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $357,300 | $562,100 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,137 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 8.3% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 20.6% | 10.0% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 47.3% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 40.3% | 62.5% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 37.0 | 40.0 | 38.9 |
What environmental sites and hazards are in New Bedford?
EPA lists 1 active Superfund site (final or proposed) in New Bedford: Sullivan'S Ledge. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
Bristol County carries a “Relatively Moderate” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: river flooding (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Is there road construction in New Bedford?
New Bedford city limits had 12 highway work zones in the October 11, 2026 feed from the state DOT (3 active that day). Roads listed: RT-140, I-195 and RT-18. 3 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in or near New Bedford?
Federal school lists place 27 public and 5 private schools within New Bedford. 6 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes are in the city. Within about 15 miles: Park Service units in the area: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. 5 state parks or recreation areas: Demarest Lloyd State Park, Dighton Rock State Park, Fall River Heritage State Park, Massasoit State Park and Sweets Knoll State Park.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in New Bedford
Gun shops
No gun shops with a public storefront are on the map inside the New Bedford city limits. There is 1 licensed dealer without a public storefront (not shown).
Liquor stores
18 liquor stores are on the map inside the New Bedford city limits: Barry's Fine Wines & Spirits (New Bedford), Biltmore Liquors, Brooklawn Liquors (New Bedford), Chuck's Liquors, Douglas Wine & Spirits (New Bedford), Finest Liquors (New Bedford), Freitas Package Store (New Bedford), Friendly Liquors (New Bedford) and 10 more. Massachusetts has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.
Planned Parenthood
There is no Planned Parenthood health center inside the New Bedford city limits on the map.
See them on the map: liquor stores →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in New Bedford?
In 2025, New Bedford had 3.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (347 reported), 13% higher than the Massachusetts rate (3.0). The property-crime rate was 15.5 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in New Bedford?
$56,981 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024), compared with $103,960 for Massachusetts.
How much do homes cost in New Bedford?
The median value of owner-occupied homes is $357,300 (Census ACS 2020-2024), against $562,100 statewide.
What natural hazards affect New Bedford?
Bristol County carries a “Relatively Moderate” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: river flooding (Relatively High).
Nearby cities
Fall River, MA (9 mi) · Taunton, MA (19 mi) · Warwick, RI (25 mi) · Pawtucket, RI (27 mi) · Providence, RI (27 mi) · Cranston, RI (29 mi)
More: Massachusetts statewide numbers · county page: Bristol County · Sex-offender registry search (NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, agency counts 2021-2025 (Return A); state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables, for the Census place New Bedford city.
- Land area: Census 2024 Gazetteer. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores (county level).
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026).
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026).
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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