Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 16 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Raleigh
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,371)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Homes cost $19k less ($328,100 vs $347,000)
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $25,897/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $25,897 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 39°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Median Home Value
$19k less
$328,100 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$25,897
$78,631 vs $52,734/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
34% lower
488.8 vs 742.9 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and Raleigh wins 16. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $347,000 median home), income ($52,734 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Raleigh, NC are about 575 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.