Real Estate Investing in New Bedford, Massachusetts (02744)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Bristol County • Population: 12,549 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02744 (New Bedford, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in New Bedford, MA (02744)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $456,234
Avg Monthly Rent $1,582
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,290
% Renters 69.1%

Market Analysis: 02744 New Bedford

Not every below-median market is a bargain. New Bedford's 02744 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $456K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 02744 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Put differently, 02744 offers a low basis, the region around New Bedford has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 02744 ZIP's population of 12,549 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reflects the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 02744 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $456K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in New Bedford:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,582/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 02744

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$115,080/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $393,121 $1,490 2.7% +10.3% $196,560
3BR $440,180 $1,790 2.9% +9.3% $146,727
4BR $460,322 $2,230 3.5% +9.2% $115,080

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$484K$413K$341K$270K$198K$126KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,710$1,682$1,654$1,626$1,598$1,570Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02744 Compare?

Metric 02744 New Bedford Massachusetts
Home Value $456,234 $298,232 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 7.0% 6.7% 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,582 $1,853 -
Cap Rate 2.7% 3.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 02744? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

69% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 02744 (New Bedford, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 02744 (New Bedford, MA)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $456,234
Monthly Rent $1,582
Price-to-Rent 24.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
8.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02744

Population: 12,549

💰 Median Household Income
$52,290
This area
$52,290
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
69.1%
This area
69.1%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.0 years
This area
34.0 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.3%
This area
8.3%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.8%
Other/Mixed 33.2%
Hispanic/Latino 29.3%
Black/African American 5.3%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
27.6%
This area
27.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 02744

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$23,947 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
383 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Roosevelt Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
788 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John B Devalles

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
292 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student
A+ Excellent

William H Taylor

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Alfred J Gomes

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 286 S Second Street, New Bedford
👥
610 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East Fairhaven

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2 New Boston Road, Fairhaven
👥
306 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,901 Per Student
A+ Excellent

James B Congdon

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 50 Hemlock Street, New Bedford
👥
301 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sgt Wm H Carney Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 247 Elm Street, New Bedford
👥
613 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Elizabeth Carter Brooks

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 212 Nemasket Street, New Bedford
👥
264 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,947 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 3,250 Off-Campus Students
C
Rob Roy Academy-New Bedford
15 students · 4.5 mi
C+
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
7,759 students · 4.9 mi
C
Bristol Community College
6,096 students · 13.2 mi
C
Rob Roy Academy-Fall River
98 students · 14.1 mi
C
Diman Regional Technical Institute
56 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,250 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in New Bedford, MA?

New Bedford, MA rentals go for roughly $1,582/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $456K acquisition costs.

Is the tenant base reliable in New Bedford, MA?

The renter base in New Bedford, MA is reasonable for the $1,582/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

Is New Bedford, MA suited for a house hack?

The a challenging house-hack environment in New Bedford, MA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in New Bedford, MA?

MA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. New Bedford generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Is housing expensive in New Bedford, MA?

New Bedford, MA home values average about $456K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,582/mo in monthly income.

You know 02744 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 02744 ranks in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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