Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Knoxville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Households earn $4,425 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($184,200 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fall River by $4,425/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Median Income
$4,425
$52,734 vs $48,309/yr
Knoxville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$144k less
$184,200 vs $328,100
Knoxville
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,043 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories. Fall River wins 8 and Knoxville 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $184,200 median home), income ($52,734 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Knoxville, TN are about 797 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.