02740 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02744
02740
Opportunity
25 · Bottom 5%
vs25 · Bottom 5%
Growth
17 · Bottom 6%
vs17 · Bottom 6%
Climate
64 · Bottom 31%
vs64 · Bottom 31%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 12%
vs89 · Top 12%
Housing affordability
54 · Bottom 16%
vs58 · Bottom 20%
Schools
35 · Bottom 29%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Access
87 · Bottom 32%
vs89 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 42%
vs44 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | 02744 | 02740 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,716 | 46,281 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $58,675 | $55,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,070 | $30,549 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 9,774/sq mi | 8,053/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $372,700 | $345,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,224 | $1,086 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 34.4% | 39.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | 5.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.1% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 17.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 19.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -100.0% | -100.0% | 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 | 28 mi | 26 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.0 | 38.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.01 | 12.04 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 15.9% | 22.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 27.7% | 33.6% | 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
02744
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
02740
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 02744 — New Bedford, MA · 02740 — New Bedford, MA · How this is calculated: methodology