New Bedford, MA
The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in New Bedford, MA is $1,527 per month, ranking #197 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $85,646, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 21.4% of income on housing. Rent in New Bedford has increased 4.4% year over year. The area has a population of 1.7M, with 37.1% of households renting.
Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size
Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.
Housing Affordability
In New Bedford, MA, a household earning the area median income of $85,646 would spend 21.4% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.
5-Year Rent Trend
+50.9% since 20212-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.
Minimum Wage Affordability
The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $15.00/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 78.3 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in New Bedford is 11.2%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.
Housing Market Context
The median home value in New Bedford is $385,900. At a median income of $85,646, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 4.5x. 8.2% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.
Other Areas in Massachusetts
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Frequently Asked Questions
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in New Bedford, MA is $1,527 per month. A studio is $1,203/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,230/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,831/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,236/mo.
New Bedford has a rent burden of 21.4%, meaning a household earning the median income of $85,646 would spend 21.4% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $61,080.
New Bedford's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,527/mo is $277 above the national median of $1,250/mo. New Bedford ranks #197 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.
To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in New Bedford without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $61,080, or a full-time hourly wage of $29/hour. The area median income is $85,646.
The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in New Bedford increased by 4.4% compared to the prior year. This is a modest increase, roughly in line with typical housing cost trends.
Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.