Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
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.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $31,157 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $497/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,517)
Homes cost $111k less ($328,100 vs $438,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $31,157/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$31,157
$83,891 vs $52,734/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
52% lower
357.6 vs 742.9 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$111k less
$328,100 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 49.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 15 and Fall River wins 8. 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 Charleston to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $328,100 median home), income ($83,891 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Fall River, MA are about 784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.