Side-by-side comparison of Worcester, MA and New Bedford, MA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: New Bedford has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.40% compared to Worcester's 3.33%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $355,000 in Worcester vs $310,000 in New Bedford, while rents come in at $1,650/mo and $1,480/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Worcester is growing faster at 0.6% annually vs New Bedford's 0.2%. Worcester leads on home value appreciation at 3% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.18% in Worcester vs 1.2% in New Bedford. Vacancy rates of 4.8% and 5.8% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Worcester edges out New Bedford on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.33%, Worcester's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Worcester or New Bedford.