Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 18 of 23 categories
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
Fayetteville
Arkansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,022 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fayetteville
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
43% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $37k less ($291,300 vs $328,100)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Income
$4,147
$56,881 vs $52,734/yr
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
43% lower
423.7 vs 742.9 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$37k less
$291,300 vs $328,100
Fayetteville
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $56,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 6.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 95,022 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 18 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 5 and Fayetteville wins 18. 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 Fall River to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $291,300 median home), income ($52,734 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Fayetteville, AR are about 1,296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.