Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Palmdale 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
Palmdale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Homes cost $69k less ($328,100 vs $397,500)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $25,680/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.4%)
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,680 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$69k less
$328,100 vs $397,500
Palmdale
Median Income
$25,680
$78,414 vs $52,734/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
26% lower
551.0 vs 742.9 per 100k
Palmdale
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palmdale leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $397,500 median home), income ($52,734 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Palmdale, CA are about 2,569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.