Rotch, William J., Gothic Cottage · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, New Bedford as a whole is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
New Bedford trails Massachusetts on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for New Bedford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in New Bedford
Every town around New Bedford scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of New Bedford’s D, from Acushnet (B) to Dartmouth (B+). Around town ↓
Smoking is more common in New Bedford
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.4%), about twice the Massachusetts rate. Habits ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in New Bedford
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3% across Massachusetts. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.1%, vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. In all, New Bedford runs above Massachusetts on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More New Bedford adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (39%, vs 27.3% across Massachusetts). The biggest difference is vision loss: 8.1% vs 4.1%. Disability ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Massachusetts figure falls outside New Bedford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind New Bedford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Bedford is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #277 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 49% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). New Bedford’s median household income is $56,981; among the 8,015 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
At 101,834 residents, New Bedford is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
New Bedford and the towns around it
New Bedford’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Bedford | D | 36.3% | 13.2% | 21.4% | CDC place |
| Fairhaven | B | 30.5% | 10.9% | 14.3% | ZIP 02719 |
| Acushnet | B | 30.5% | 10.2% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Dartmouth | B+ | 29% | 9.8% | 13.3% | ZIP codes |
| Acushnet Center | — | — | — | — | |
| Bliss Corner | — | — | — | — | |
| Smith Mills | — | — | — | — |
Acushnet Center, Bliss Corner and Smith Mills: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
10 miles of trails across 27 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 New Bedford adults…
New Bedford runs above MA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of New Bedford adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Care in and near New Bedford
1 community health center in New Bedford, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of New Bedford; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of New Bedford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
How New Bedford adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, New Bedford runs above Massachusetts.
4 in 10 New Bedford adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
32.3% of New Bedford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Every CDC estimate for New Bedford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, New Bedford is better than Massachusetts on 0 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside New Bedford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | New Bedford | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.4%25.9–30.9 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.7–20.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22%20–24 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.3%31.8–40.9 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.8–14.8 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.5%32.6–38.4 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%33.6–39.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%26.5–31.4 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.8%12.4–15.3 | 11.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.6 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.4–8.8 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%9.2–11.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.7 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.8%20.3–27.4 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.4%19.2–23.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.9%29.4–36.4 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.8–18.3 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%34.4–42.5 | 33.6% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.1%9.7–12.5 | 5.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77.6–82.7 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%54.1–60.2 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.9–87.1 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.9%71.2–76.4 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%58–65.7 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%73.3–83.6 | 83.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.6–28.3 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.8%33.3–40.7 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.5%25.6–31.9 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.7%24.3–29.3 | 12.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.6%19.5–23.9 | 11.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.2%12.8–16 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.3%12.9–15.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.3%29.7–35.1 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39%35.7–42.3 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.9%17–20.7 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.3%19.4–23.2 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.4–8.7 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.6–13.9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.6–6.5 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in New Bedford
Is New Bedford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Bedford is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #277 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in New Bedford?
CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 40.9%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to New Bedford?
Southcoast Hospitals Group in Fall River, 11.3 miles in a straight line from New Bedford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in New Bedford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–12.5%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in New Bedford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in New Bedford.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.