Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 19 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Hampton
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,255)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hampton by $11,696/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.5%)
Hampton, VA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Fall River
Homes cost $108k less ($219,800 vs $328,100)
Households earn $11,696 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Median Income
$11,696
$64,430 vs $52,734/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
67% lower
247.6 vs 742.9 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$108k less
$219,800 vs $328,100
Hampton
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Hampton
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 47.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 19 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 4 and Hampton wins 19. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $219,800 median home), income ($52,734 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Hampton, VA are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.