Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Fall River leads 12 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682 ✓ 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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Households earn $7,195 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fall River
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($328,100 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $585/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,605)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Monte by $7,195/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$7,195
$59,929 vs $52,734/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
43% lower
423.2 vs 742.9 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
El Monte
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$269k less
$328,100 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 15.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 75.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fall River leads 12 of 23 categories. El Monte 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 El Monte to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $328,100 median home), income ($59,929 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Fall River, MA are about 2,580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.