Home Insurance in New Bedford, Massachusetts
Homes in New Bedford carry a median value of $357,300 - 21% lower than the Bristol County median.
The median home in New Bedford was built in 1939 or earlier. About 68% of homes were built before 1960, about 21 points above Bristol County's 47%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
The housing stock in New Bedford is 32% single-family homes and 21% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 65% of owner-occupied homes in New Bedford have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 5%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 40% of occupied homes in New Bedford are owner-occupied.
In New Bedford, 79% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near New Bedford? FEMA's National Risk Index points to inland flooding (Relatively High) in Bristol County and Bristol County had 3,238 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Bristol County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
In Massachusetts, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $2,134 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $357,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1939 or earlier |
| Owner-occupied share | 40% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 65% |
| Top county hazard | Inland Flooding (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Bristol County | 3,238 |
| Home insurance premium | $2,134 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
- Fall River
- Taunton
- Bridgewater Town
- Attleboro
- Brockton
- North Attleborough Town
- Barnstable Town
- Randolph Town
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)