Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland 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
Lakeland
Florida
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,217)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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 5.4%)
Median income trails Lakeland by $5,556/yr
Lakeland, FL
Pros
92% less violent crime than Fall River
Homes cost $120k less ($207,800 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.9 on the COL index
Lakeland
Median Income
$5,556
$58,290 vs $52,734/yr
Lakeland
Violent Crime
92% lower
56.0 vs 742.9 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$120k less
$207,800 vs $328,100
Lakeland
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,217 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $58,290 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 114,404 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 19 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 4 and Lakeland 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $207,800 median home), income ($52,734 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Lakeland, FL are about 1,125 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.