Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Long Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($328,100 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $678/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,698)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $26,261/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.6%)
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,261 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$382k less
$328,100 vs $709,700
Long Beach
Median Income
$26,261
$78,995 vs $52,734/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
9% lower
676.4 vs 742.9 per 100k
Long Beach
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Long Beach, 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 | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 10 and Long Beach wins 13. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $709,700 median home), income ($52,734 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Long Beach, CA are about 2,596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.