Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 Indianapolis leads 16 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Indianapolis
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Indianapolis by $6,376/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.6%)
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($184,600 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,376 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Violent Crime
15% lower
742.9 vs 877.9 per 100k
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Income
$6,376
$59,110 vs $52,734/yr
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$144k less
$184,600 vs $328,100
Indianapolis
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,046 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $59,110 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 33.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 41.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 25.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and Indianapolis wins 16. 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $184,600 median home), income ($52,734 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Indianapolis, IN are about 798 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.