Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 22 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Norwalk
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $840/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,860)
Homes cost $265k less ($328,100 vs $593,100)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $38,525/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,525 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
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
$265k less
$328,100 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$38,525
$91,259 vs $52,734/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
50% lower
374.4 vs 742.9 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 22 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $593,100 median home), income ($52,734 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Norwalk, CA are about 2,588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.