Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Fremont
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $903k less ($328,100 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1804/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,824)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $116,289/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.0%)
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $116,289 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$903k less
$328,100 vs $1,231,500
Fall River
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$116,289
$169,023 vs $52,734/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
74% lower
195.7 vs 742.9 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 228,795 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 38.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Fremont wins 14. 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 Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($52,734 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Fremont, CA are about 2,683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.