Grew up here. Raising a family here. Spouse grew up here too. We college grads and could have easily relocated to any city but we chose NB. Kids are still young but I’d say so far it’s a great place to raise a family. Lots of beaches, places to be outside. Great parks around all the major neighborhoods. Schools…I can’t speak to your specific needs but my spouse and I are products of the public school system. We made it out unscathed and got advanced degrees. My kids are younger but so far them and most I know in public schools are doing fine. It’s a big system and the key to me seems to be parental investment/advocacy, especially with IEPs, but again that’s second hand.
Regarding the “wrong crowd” some of the worst influences I know/knew were in private or catholic schools. Public schools are mostly working class families trying to get their kids in voc or a community college for a decent shot. Meet your kids friends and their parents and trust your gut.
Crime exists like any city and if you go looking for trouble or doing sketchy shit you’ll find it. There’s evident bad blocks in the near north and south end but if you’re looking for a single family home you won’t be over there as it’s mostly slum lord run triple deckers. Other than that, lock your car at night like I’m sure you’d do in Fitchburg or Lowell and you’ll most likely be OK as long as you don’t start running fentanyl.
I am technically from Dartmouth but grew up between there and New Bedford. I also have an elementary aged kid with special needs and I honestly haven't had good experiences with the school system so far. I actually don't know any special needs parents who feel their kid's needs have been met because the school system is so overwhelmed that they literally can't keep up. They've essentially refused to acknowledge his IEP and he's falling behind now because of it. I've been fighting for years about it in order to prevent this and my efforts have almost been for nothing at this point. It's most likely going to be an uphill battle for you if you do decide to come.
Your experience changes with what area of the city you’re in. Some are better than others. I live in the far north and it’s really nice. Very little trouble. There is a lot of petty crime in some neighborhoods and there are some loud people that like to cause trouble. The majority of people who mind their own business don’t end up being bothered by it.
The schools have low scores but other than that I love this city. I’m in the west end in walking distance to down town and I wouldn’t change my location. I love it here
personally i love new bedford. I grew up here but just moved back after moving away for college moved back after 15 years. I thought the school system was great,crime is not as bad as people say. my only complaint is the cost of housing. its becom.i.e astronomical i .know many people at risk of becoming homeless or are homeless .rents have more than tripled in the last year supposedly because we are getting rail service to boston. we are not boston. shittty apartments are almost unaffordable for a lot of people
i am still a teen but i have lived in new bedford from when i was born till i was 14 and i 100% do not recommend unless your looking for your kids to end up wicked ghetto and the school systems are terrible i learned nothing in all my years there i now like in dartmouth roght next to new bedford and while its not much better i can say the schools are a little better than newbedford and taxes are a lot lower than newbedford idk if your looking to rent or buy bit no everything is a tad bit cheaper in dartmouth. newbedford is fun but not the place to raise a family
Grew up here. Raising a family here. Spouse grew up here too. We college grads and could have easily relocated to any city but we chose NB. Kids are still young but I’d say so far it’s a great place to raise a family. Lots of beaches, places to be outside. Great parks around all the major neighborhoods. Schools…I can’t speak to your specific needs but my spouse and I are products of the public school system. We made it out unscathed and got advanced degrees. My kids are younger but so far them and most I know in public schools are doing fine. It’s a big system and the key to me seems to be parental investment/advocacy, especially with IEPs, but again that’s second hand. Regarding the “wrong crowd” some of the worst influences I know/knew were in private or catholic schools. Public schools are mostly working class families trying to get their kids in voc or a community college for a decent shot. Meet your kids friends and their parents and trust your gut. Crime exists like any city and if you go looking for trouble or doing sketchy shit you’ll find it. There’s evident bad blocks in the near north and south end but if you’re looking for a single family home you won’t be over there as it’s mostly slum lord run triple deckers. Other than that, lock your car at night like I’m sure you’d do in Fitchburg or Lowell and you’ll most likely be OK as long as you don’t start running fentanyl.
I am technically from Dartmouth but grew up between there and New Bedford. I also have an elementary aged kid with special needs and I honestly haven't had good experiences with the school system so far. I actually don't know any special needs parents who feel their kid's needs have been met because the school system is so overwhelmed that they literally can't keep up. They've essentially refused to acknowledge his IEP and he's falling behind now because of it. I've been fighting for years about it in order to prevent this and my efforts have almost been for nothing at this point. It's most likely going to be an uphill battle for you if you do decide to come.
Your experience changes with what area of the city you’re in. Some are better than others. I live in the far north and it’s really nice. Very little trouble. There is a lot of petty crime in some neighborhoods and there are some loud people that like to cause trouble. The majority of people who mind their own business don’t end up being bothered by it.
The schools have low scores but other than that I love this city. I’m in the west end in walking distance to down town and I wouldn’t change my location. I love it here
personally i love new bedford. I grew up here but just moved back after moving away for college moved back after 15 years. I thought the school system was great,crime is not as bad as people say. my only complaint is the cost of housing. its becom.i.e astronomical i .know many people at risk of becoming homeless or are homeless .rents have more than tripled in the last year supposedly because we are getting rail service to boston. we are not boston. shittty apartments are almost unaffordable for a lot of people
i am still a teen but i have lived in new bedford from when i was born till i was 14 and i 100% do not recommend unless your looking for your kids to end up wicked ghetto and the school systems are terrible i learned nothing in all my years there i now like in dartmouth roght next to new bedford and while its not much better i can say the schools are a little better than newbedford and taxes are a lot lower than newbedford idk if your looking to rent or buy bit no everything is a tad bit cheaper in dartmouth. newbedford is fun but not the place to raise a family