Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $556k less ($328,100 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1602/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,622)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $83,836/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.4%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $83,836 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/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
$556k less
$328,100 vs $883,600
Fall River
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$83,836
$136,570 vs $52,734/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
87% lower
99.2 vs 742.9 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 8 and Mission Viejo wins 15. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $883,600 median home), income ($52,734 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 2,575 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.