Andrew Romano
BOLD Real Estate
(508) 501-9567
70 Total Sales
3 in Downtown New Bedford
$435K - $465K Price Range
Downtown New Bedford
From whales to tales: Downtown New Bedford used to be a whaling hub, but now it’s full of cultural hotspots that tell diverse stories, from galleries to museums to artist studios. But what’s interesting is that the historic look hasn’t been sacrificed. Particularly from Acushnet Drive to the waterfront, you can see Federal and Greek Revival styles popular during the 19th-century, plus endearing accents like gas lanterns and cobblestone streets.
“This is a bustling area, and everyone hopes that the train will serve New Bedford soon, because that will really make the area take off even more,” says Ellie Wickes, a Realtor with Sotheby's International Realty in Westport.
Price points in Downtown New Bedford can stretch from $200,000 to $1 million, but the sweet spot is the mid $300,000s – that’s where you’ll find a remarkable variety of options. For example, you can find a wood shingle Colonial from the turn of the century, with a farmers porch and fenced back yard. You’ll also see prewar bungalows on quiet, almost suburban streets.
Filled with several private schools, Downtown New Bedford is also known for having a strong public school pipeline. With an imposing red brick face looming over local homes, Thomas Rodman Elementary enrolls 200 students in grades K-5. The school’s student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1 helped it to receive an A- in the teachers category from Niche. Keith Middle ups the student population, with around 950 children enrolled in grades 6-8. But it’s still able to maintain an 11 to 1 student-teacher ratio, and it earned an A from Niche in the diversity category. Remarkably, New Bedford High enrolls 3,000 students, making it one of the largest schools in the country. Niche gives New Bedford High an A in the clubs and activities category, thanks to successful boys and girls sports teams.
A neat feature of Downtown New Bedford is how small parks dot the urban landscape. Harrington Park on the west end received renovations in 2015, including new basketball courts, a splash pad and playground. Wings Court is a brick courtyard featuring native plants, ornamental grasses and maritime artwork celebrating the neighborhood’s history. Custom House Square sits near the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and serves as a venue for festivals and artistic events. Meander among the plantings and grassy mounds, past a large decorative fountain and promenade with Greek columns.
There are dozens of places to eat in Downtown New Bedford, but one place that consistently gets top mention is The Black Whale. Situated with views of the Acushnet River, this restaurant focuses on local seafood heritage but also offers a bar for enjoying cool sips. And with Route 6 running through the center of town, it’s easy to reach everyday amenities like Down to Earth Natural Foods.
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, also known as The Z, launched in 1923 and underwent a $1.1 million restoration in 2014. This is a popular gathering place for the community, hosting everything from musicals to symphonies to comedy shows.
Downtown New Bedford keeps history alive, while managing to stay fresh and artistic.
Written By
Paul Spencer
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Williams
Video By
Tyler Newbold
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Andrew Romano
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Tracy Shand
Tracy Shand
Conway - Lakeville
(774) 271-5464
37 Total Sales
1 in Downtown New Bedford
$265,000 Price
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Samuel Alba
Samuel Alba
Innovations Realty
(401) 406-4077
624 Total Sales
1 in Downtown New Bedford
$365,000 Price
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Jamison Souza
Jamison Souza
Keller Williams South Watuppa
(508) 300-9317
83 Total Sales
3 in Downtown New Bedford
$250K - $340K Price Range
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The Mathew J Arruda Group
The Mathew J Arruda Group
Compass
(508) 501-5617
341 Total Sales
42 in Downtown New Bedford
$250K - $1.6M Price Range
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Manny Lindo
Manny Lindo
Highland Real Estate Group
(774) 713-9051
101 Total Sales
3 in Downtown New Bedford
$293K - $405K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 4th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Noah's Place Playground
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Custom House Square
Clasky Common Park
Dr. Paul F. Walsh Athletic Field
Harrington Park
Monte Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown New Bedford | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown New Bedford Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown New Bedford, New Bedford sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown New Bedford, New Bedford over the last 12 months is $344,000, down 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$430,000
Median Sale Price
$344,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$575,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$325,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$350,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
56
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-11%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$323
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,068
Number of Homes for Sale
13
Median Year Built
1906
Months of Supply
2.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,750
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,603
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,077
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
702
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,920
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Aug 212 - 2pm
-
Saturday, Aug 211am - 1pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
17,249
Median Age
40
Population Density
15 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$41,724
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$64,548
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
78.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
18.9%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.5%
% Population in Labor Force
60.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
52''
Average Winter Low Temperature
22°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
33''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
57
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
88
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
53
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Bliss Corner
Beachside living meets urban convenience along Massachusetts’ South Coast
Oxford
Part quaint coastal community, part bustling commercial corner
Fairhaven
Mix of urban and suburban lifestyles in a cozy coastal setting
Clasky Park
A historic neighborhood close to downtown New Bedford and the water
Westview Park
Central New Bedford community close to downtown and Buttonwood Park
Buttonwood Park
Classic New England homes surrounding a historic New Bedford park
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