Latinos in Massachusetts Selected Areas: New Bedford

This report provides a descriptive snapshot of selected economic, social, educational, and demographic indicators pertaining to Latinos in New Bedford. It reflects a commitment by UMass Boston’s Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy to provide periodic updates on the growing Latino population in Massachusetts. The report on New Bedford is part of a larger series that covers cities and towns with a population between 35,000 and 100,000 residents in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a significant Latino population. Each report analyzes data from the American Community Survey (ACS) conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau. We obtained the data from the American Factfinder website in tabular form, and we transformed these data into figures presented in this report. New Bedford is considered a “Gateway City.” These are midsized (35,000–250,000) cities in Massachusetts that were once industrial centers but have not transitioned economically to the same extent as cities with high-tech industries. They all rank below the statewide average in regard to both household income and educational attainment. The Census Bureau identifies Latinos through a question that asks respondents to choose either “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino.” Separately, it asks respondents to identify a race. This report uses the term “Latino” to include all those who selected “Hispanic or Latino” on the Census form, regardless of racial designation. The report compares Latinos, thus defined, to non-Latino whites, blacks, and Asians, based on individuals’ racial identification. The number of ethno-racial groups included in a particular analysis may vary; each ethno-racial group is included in the analysis only when the observed sample size is large enough to produce reliable population estimates. For example, New Bedford’s American Indian population is estimated to be 168 individuals and is not included in most of the figures in this report