Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Fall River leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
12
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
27% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $18,939 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $24k less ($304,500 vs $328,100)
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $294/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $18,939/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$18,939
$71,673 vs $52,734/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
27% lower
539.8 vs 742.9 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$24k less
$304,500 vs $328,100
Fall River
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $328,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 38.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fall River leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 11 and Fall River wins 12. 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 Chicago to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $328,100 median home), income ($71,673 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Fall River, MA are about 854 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.