Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Murrieta
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $1130/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,150)
Homes cost $240k less ($328,100 vs $567,700)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $54,191/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.7%)
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,191 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Fall River
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 29.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$240k less
$328,100 vs $567,700
Murrieta
Median Income
$54,191
$106,925 vs $52,734/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
75% lower
183.7 vs 742.9 per 100k
Murrieta
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Murrieta
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and Murrieta wins 16. 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 Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $567,700 median home), income ($52,734 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Murrieta, CA are about 2,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.