Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 17 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Irvine
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $698k less ($328,100 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1729/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,749)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $70,214/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,214 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$698k less
$328,100 vs $1,025,700
Irvine
Median Income
$70,214
$122,948 vs $52,734/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
89% lower
84.0 vs 742.9 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 66 |
| 🎓 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 | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 17 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 6 and Irvine wins 17. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($52,734 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Irvine, CA are about 2,579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.