02740 and 02721 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
02740
02721
Opportunity
25 · Bottom 5%
vs25 · Bottom 5%
Growth
17 · Bottom 6%
vs42 · Bottom 37%
Climate
64 · Bottom 31%
vs64 · Bottom 31%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 12%
vs89 · Top 12%
Housing affordability
58 · Bottom 20%
vs46 · Bottom 10%
Schools
46 · Bottom 43%
vs40 · Bottom 35%
Access
89 · Bottom 37%
vs96 · Top 35%
Economic stability
44 · Bottom 25%
vs44 · Bottom 24%
Measured values
| Metric | 02740 | 02721 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,281 | 26,521 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,237 | $52,841 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,549 | $31,240 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 8,053/sq mi | 6,592/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $345,800 | $406,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,086 | $1,102 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 39.6% | 34.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.1% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 15.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.8% | 19.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 60 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -100.0% | 1.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.9" | 45.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 26 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 28.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.04 | 12.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 22.1% | 18.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 33.6% | 31.5% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
02740
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
02721
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 02740 — New Bedford, MA · 02721 — Fall River, MA · How this is calculated: methodology