Rents are 5% below what New Bedford's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,811 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in New Bedford is 1.1% below its high of $1,832 in July 2026, at $1,811 as of September 2026.
Rent in New Bedford changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($56,981) is $1,425 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,380); a 3-bedroom is $1,660.
Central Falls, RI, 29 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,547/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for New Bedford. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
New Bedford, MA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 17% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How New Bedford, MA has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in New Bedford, MA has climbed from $1,321 to $1,811, a 37.1% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $50,581 in 2021 to $56,981 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the New Bedford, MA market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in New Bedford on your salary?
At $1,811/mo, how New Bedford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
New Bedford rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in New Bedford. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in New Bedford
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in New Bedford is $1,811/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,030/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,380/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,660/mo.
At 38% of local median household income ($56,981/yr), New Bedford ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in New Bedford?
Is rent going up or down in New Bedford?
Which New Bedford neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does New Bedford rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $1,811/mo, rent takes ~38% of New Bedford's median household income ($56,981/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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