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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

New Bedford, MA Housing Affordability Index

New Bedford, Massachusetts has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 69.0 (Significantly Less Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 158th most affordable of 193 scored Massachusetts cities, compared with 76.0 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $357,300 home with 20% down, the Massachusetts average 30-year fixed rate of 7.10% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,921, or 40% of the city’s $56,981 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for New Bedford is updated every night from live Massachusetts mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

New Bedford MBR-HAI 69.0 Significantly Less Affordable
Rank in Massachusetts 158 of 193 1 = most affordable
Massachusetts 76.0 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.10% Massachusetts lenders
Median home value $357,300 U.S. Census Bureau

New Bedford is 7.0 points below the Massachusetts score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Massachusetts index

View New Bedford Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in New Bedford

$1,921/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.10%
$82,300
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$56,981
Median Household Income
Massachusetts: $103,960
6.3x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Massachusetts: 5.4x
$1,644/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$4,321/yr
Median Property Tax
1.21% of median value
39.4%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
50.5%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for New Bedford, Massachusetts. The rate is the Massachusetts average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the New Bedford Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. New Bedford, Massachusetts score: 69.0 (Significantly Less Affordable), ranked 158 of 193 Massachusetts cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/massachusetts/new-bedford”