Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Dayton leads 13 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($86,200 vs $328,100)
Rent averages $190/mo less ($830 vs $1,020)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
More college-educated — 19.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fall River by $11,291/yr
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 8.4%)
Fall River, MA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $11,291 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (8.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$242k less
$86,200 vs $328,100
Dayton
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Median Income
$11,291
$52,734 vs $41,443/yr
Fall River
Violent Crime
45% lower
742.9 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Fall River
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
8.4% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $328,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $52,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dayton leads 13 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 13 and Fall River wins 10. 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 Dayton to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $328,100 median home), income ($41,443 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Fall River, MA are about 698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.