Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen 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
McAllen
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than McAllen
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.4%)
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($158,700 vs $328,100)
80% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$3,592
$56,326 vs $52,734/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
80% lower
150.0 vs 742.9 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$169k less
$158,700 vs $328,100
McAllen
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 19 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 4 and McAllen 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $158,700 median home), income ($52,734 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and McAllen, TX are about 1,876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.