Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ 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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,405 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fall River
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $742k less ($328,100 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1457/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,477)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $81,405/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$81,405
$134,139 vs $52,734/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
73% lower
199.1 vs 742.9 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fall River
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$742k less
$328,100 vs $1,070,500
Fall River
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 39.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories. Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $328,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Fall River, MA are about 2,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.