What are the schools like in Fall River, MA?

Fall River is served primarily by Fall River. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.4:1.

What is the median household income in Fall River?

The median household income in Fall River, MA is $52,734 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.4%.

What is the weather like in Fall River, MA?

Fall River has an average high temperature of 39.1°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.1 inches.

Fall River, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Fall River, MA affordable or expensive?

Fall River's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fall River is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $328,100 and the median rent is $1,020 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fall River, MA?

Fall River has a violent crime rate of 742.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1391.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fall River, MA a Good Place to Live?

Fall River is a mid-sized city of 93,638 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $52,734 and a 8.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Fall River stands out for short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fall River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fall River city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Fall River's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fall River costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Fall River, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$328,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,020	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	35.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,734	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Fall River's violent crime rate is 742.9 per 100,000 residents — 95% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

742.9 /100k

Property Crime

1391.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Fall River is served primarily by Fall River. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fall River, MA	National Avg
School District	Fall River	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	75.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fall River sees average highs of 39.1°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 49.2 inches of annual precipitation and 38.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fall River, MA
Average High — January	39.1°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	49.2"
Annual Snowfall	38.1"

Demographics

Metric	Fall River, MA	National Avg
Population	93,638	—
Median Age	39.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	74.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.2%	18.9%
Asian	2.7%	6.3%
Under 18	20.5%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Westport, MA 4 mi Somerset, MA 4 mi Ocean Grove, MA 6 mi Smith Mills, MA 7 mi Tiverton, RI 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Fall River

Fall River, MA is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

02720 02717 02721 02724 02723

Fall River vs Other Cities

Fall River, MA vs North Westport, MA Fall River, MA vs Somerset, MA Fall River, MA vs Ocean Grove, MA Fall River, MA vs Smith Mills, MA Fall River, MA vs Tiverton, RI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fall River, MA affordable or expensive?

Fall River's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Fall River roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $328,100 and median rent is $1,020/month.

What is the crime rate in Fall River, MA?

Fall River's violent crime rate is 742.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1391.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fall River?

Public schools in Fall River are operated by Fall River. The district has 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 15.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fall River, MA a good place to live?

Fall River, MA has a population of 93,638, a median household income of $52,734, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Fall River?

Fall River averages 39.1°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.2 inches with about 38.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fall River?

Fall River, MA is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 02720, 02717, 02721, 02724, 02723.

What is the population of Fall River?

The population of Fall River, Massachusetts is 93,638 with a median age of 39.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fall River?

Key numbers for living in Fall River: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $328,100, median household income $52,734, crime index 144 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fall River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.