Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Norfolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Norfolk
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,188)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Median income trails Norfolk by $8,264/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.7%)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Fall River
Homes cost $74k less ($254,200 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.7%)
Households earn $8,264 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Income
$8,264
$60,998 vs $52,734/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
37% lower
469.5 vs 742.9 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$74k less
$254,200 vs $328,100
Norfolk
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Norfolk
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and Norfolk 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $254,200 median home), income ($52,734 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Norfolk, VA are about 431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.