Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 14 of 23 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
Ontario
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $806/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,826)
Homes cost $185k less ($328,100 vs $513,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $25,336/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $25,336 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 19.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Longer commutes — 31.3 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
$185k less
$328,100 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$25,336
$78,070 vs $52,734/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
63% lower
272.2 vs 742.9 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Ontario, 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 | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 19.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 76.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Ontario wins 14. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $513,000 median home), income ($52,734 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Ontario, CA are about 2,559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.