Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Carmel leads 17 of 22 categories
Carmel
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453 ✓ 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.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $80,125 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,499)
Homes cost $98k less ($328,100 vs $425,900)
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $80,125/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$80,125
$132,859 vs $52,734/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
91% lower
66.0 vs 742.9 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fall River
Median Home Value
$98k less
$328,100 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 39.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 17 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 Carmel to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $328,100 median home), income ($132,859 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Fall River, MA are about 795 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.