Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 15 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Portsmouth
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,225)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.6%)
Median income trails Portsmouth by $4,420/yr
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($213,300 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $4,420 more per year on average
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Income
$4,420
$57,154 vs $52,734/yr
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$115k less
$213,300 vs $328,100
Portsmouth
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 97,384 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 15 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 8 and Portsmouth wins 15. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $213,300 median home), income ($52,734 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Portsmouth, VA are about 438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.