New Bedford Massachusetts Income Charts

This section shows the New Bedford Massachusetts economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2020 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, New Bedford depicts it has a Median earnings of $44,648 which is the second smallest in terms of median earnings per worker of all the other places in the greater region. The city with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Mattapoisett Center CDP which shows a median earnings of $70,985 (59.0% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $49,041, New Bedford is about 9.8% smaller. Also, compared to the state of Massachusetts, median earnings per worker of $62,972, New Bedford is approximately three-fourths the size.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $46,321 which is the second smallest when sorted by median household income of all the other places in the surrounding region. The city with the highest median household income in the area is Mattapoisett Center CDP which depicts a median income of $93,826 (about twice as large). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $62,843, New Bedford is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Massachusetts, median household income of $81,215, New Bedford is approximately half the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the New Bedford metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has one of the largest proportions of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 36.5% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger city being Fall River with 37.7%. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 21.8% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 4.5% of the total.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 36.8 which is the second smallest when sorted by average hours of all the other places in the local area. The city with the highest average hours in the area is North Westport CDP which depicts an average hours of 40.3 (9.5% larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $23.33 which is the second smallest when ranked by average hourly earnings of all the other places in the greater region. The city with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Mattapoisett Center CDP which shows an average hourly earnings of $36.02 (54.4% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $24.31, New Bedford is only about 4.2% smaller. Also, benchmarked against the state of Massachusetts, average hourly earnings of $31.87, New Bedford is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the New Bedford metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. New Bedford shows it has a Self Employed of 5.5% which is less than most other places in the area. The city with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Mattapoisett Center CDP which depicts a percentage self employed of 20.3% (approximately 3.7 times bigger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years the second smallest when sorted by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other places in the surrounding region at $53,444 of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when sorted by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other places in the local area when sorted by median income-25 to 44 years at $57,449 of the total. Third, it has in the center range of other places in the local area when ranked by median income-45 to 64 years at $29,259 of the total.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 14.4% which is the smallest in terms of households with retirement income of all the other places in the local area. The city with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Mattapoisett Center CDP which depicts a households with retirement income of 28.8% (about twice as large).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the percentage of overall family income the second smallest as measured by overall family income of all the other places in the local area at $66,772 of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of white family income at $46,579 of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of hawaiian family income at $33,763 of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. New Bedford depicts it has the hightest cost of 129.0 for the cost of utilities aggregate.

New Bedford Massachusetts Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 15.6% to 6.2% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 60.3%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 9.9% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 59.7%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It shows that from February 2010 to before the disasterous Covid-19 virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 46,817 to 48,197 in February 2020. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 2.9%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 46,649 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 3.2%.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows New Bedford shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.9% which is the third most of all other places in the greater region. The city with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Fall River which depicts a rate of 5.0% (26.2% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. New Bedford depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 61.9% which is the third most participation rates of all other places in the greater New Bedford region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. New Bedford shows full time employees approximately 2.5 times bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater New Bedford area. New Bedford shows it has a Single Earner Families of 25.6% which is in the mid range of other places in the metro area. The city with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Mattapoisett Center CDP which shows a single earners rate of 30.2% (17.6% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. New Bedford shows it has a Families with No One Working of 19.2% which is less than most other places in the surrounding region. The city with the highest families with no one working in the area is North Westport CDP which shows a families with no worker of 30.2% (57.4% larger).

New Bedford Massachusetts Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the New Bedford community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. New Bedford depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 18,951 which is more than all other places in the greater New Bedford region.

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. New Bedford depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 20.3% which is the highest of all places in the surrounding region.

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. New Bedford has the percentage of person in poverty 55 to 64 years the second smallest when ranked by person in poverty under 12 years of all the other places in the local area at 11% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. New Bedford has the largest proportion of black poverty rate at 37% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of asian poverty rate at 100% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian poverty rate at 35% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Fall River (42%), and #1 Smith Mills CDP (100%) are larger.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. New Bedford has one of the largest proportions of married with children and in poverty at 42% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger city being Fall River with 49%. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of unmarried with children and in poverty at 43% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger city being Fall River with 54%. Third, it has the largest proportion of unmarried female with children and in poverty at 34% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. New Bedford has the largest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 17% of the total and is ranked #1. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) New Bedford depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 26.0% which is the second most households with public assistance of all the places in the greater New Bedford region. The city with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Fall River which depicts a households with public assistance of 28.3% (8.7% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). New Bedford shows it has a Gini Index of 46.0% which is less than most other places in the greater region.

New Bedford Massachusetts Work Commute Charts

The following set of charts detail a variety of metrics that have economic impact, economic grow factors and economic development metrics in the New Bedford community and has an impact on other factors such as economic growth, population growth, economic recovery, job growth, etc.. Figure 32 shows a high level view of how the population commutes to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) New Bedford has the largest proportion of people who drive a car or motorcycle to work at 2% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who take public transportation to work at 5% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown New Bedford or elsewhere.) New Bedford has the smallest proportion of people who drove alone at 73% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 16% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who take the bus at 2% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people who take a Subway or elevated rail at 0% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who bike at 0% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the largest proportion of people who walked at 5% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. New Bedford has one of the largest proportions of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 6% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Smith Mills CDP (6%), and #1 Mattapoisett Center CDP (7%) are larger. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 8am to 830am at 3% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. New Bedford has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 19% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Bliss Corner CDP (19%), and #1 North Westport CDP (20%) are larger.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. New Bedford shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 26 which is in the mid range of other places in the local area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. New Bedford depicts average commute time in minutes for men 40.5% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and New Bedford has one of the largest proportions of no vehicle available at 31% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger city being Fall River with 31%. Second, it has less than most other places in the greater region when ranked by 1 vehicle available at 37% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 2 vehicles available at 14% of the total. Also, it has the second smallest in order of no vehicle available of all the other places in the local area in order of 3 vehicles available at 6% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) New Bedford depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 41% which is the second most people who both work and live in the same city of all the places in the greater New Bedford region. The city with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Fall River which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 43% (only about 5.1% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 42%, New Bedford is only about 3.0% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Massachusetts, people who both work and live in the same city of 34%, New Bedford is 19.3% larger.

New Bedford Massachusetts Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. New Bedford depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $74,653 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations grouping. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and New Bedford depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $75,128 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations grouping. The table in Figure 48, shows New Bedford employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

New Bedford Massachusetts Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. New Bedford depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 37% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses grouping.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. New Bedford depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 19% for the self employed in professional, scientific, management, administrative services grouping.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. New Bedford indicates it has a Self Employment Income of $32,514 which is the second smallest in order of average annual self employment income of all the other places in the greater region. The city with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Bliss Corner CDP which depicts an average annual self employment income of $46,646 (43.5% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $39,154, New Bedford is about 20.4% smaller. Also, in comparison with the state of Massachusetts, average annual self employment income of $45,741, New Bedford is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) New Bedford shows total number of self-employed men 67.2% larger as the total number of self-employed women.