Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 13 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Portland
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($328,100 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,530)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $33,142/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $33,142 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$195k less
$328,100 vs $523,100
Portland
Median Income
$33,142
$85,876 vs $52,734/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
3% lower
720.1 vs 742.9 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 13 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 10 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $523,100 median home), income ($52,734 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Portland, OR are about 2,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.