Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
35% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $19,002 more per year on average
Homes cost $77k less ($251,300 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Fall River
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,297)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $19,002/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$19,002
$71,736 vs $52,734/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
35% lower
482.9 vs 742.9 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$77k less
$251,300 vs $328,100
Arlington
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $328,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 16 and Fall River wins 7. 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 Arlington to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $328,100 median home), income ($71,736 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Fall River, MA are about 1,554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.