Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Overview

As a critical healthcare facility in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Southcoast Behavioral Health occupies a central position within the regional infrastructure. This hospital connects residents across multiple incorporated places, making it a focal point for the surrounding area. Analyzing the population within a 30-minute drive sheds light on how this location fits into the broader community network.

Population catchment

The catchment area surrounding Southcoast Behavioral Health includes 16 incorporated communities with a combined population of roughly 310,330. New Bedford anchors this population base at 101,079 residents, comprising approximately 33% of the total. Fall River and Taunton, with populations of 94,000 and 59,408 respectively, round out the top three communities by population in the 30-minute radius. The distribution of population across these communities paints a picture of the regional demographic landscape.

Regional dependence

The data reveals that 12 communities out of 16 near Southcoast Behavioral Health have fewer than 10,000 residents. These smaller incorporated places look to New Bedford and its surrounding infrastructure for commerce, employment, and civic services. This hub-and-spoke dynamic underscores how locations like Southcoast Behavioral Health function as critical nodes in the regional network of Massachusetts.

Geographic interpretation

The urban nature of the area around Southcoast Behavioral Health is reflected in the population data. Multiple communities exceed 10,000 residents, creating a densely populated corridor with significant commercial and residential activity. With New Bedford as the primary urban anchor and numerous smaller places in the vicinity, the region displays a concentrated demographic pattern. The median community size of 3,240 residents reveals that the majority of incorporated places in the area are substantially smaller relative to New Bedford. These geographic factors contribute to the significance of Southcoast Behavioral Health within the surrounding community network.