Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Abilene leads 18 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($161,800 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (2.8%)
43% less violent crime than Fall River
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Households earn $6,520 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Abilene
Median income trails Abilene by $6,520/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$6,520
$59,254 vs $52,734/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
43% lower
424.5 vs 742.9 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$166k less
$161,800 vs $328,100
Abilene
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $328,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 18 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 18 and Fall River wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $328,100 median home), income ($59,254 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Fall River, MA are about 1,694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.