Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Phoenix
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,322)
7% less violent crime than Phoenix
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $19,358/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $19,358 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Violent Crime
7% lower
742.9 vs 799.6 per 100k
Fall River
Median Home Value
$12k less
$328,100 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$19,358
$72,092 vs $52,734/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
21.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $340,200 median home), income ($52,734 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Phoenix, AZ are about 2,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.