Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Fall River leads 12 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($328,100 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $833/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,853)
20% less violent crime than Richmond
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $33,884/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.9%)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,884 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Violent Crime
20% lower
742.9 vs 923.1 per 100k
Fall River
Median Home Value
$297k less
$328,100 vs $624,800
Fall River
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$33,884
$86,618 vs $52,734/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fall River leads 12 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 12 and Richmond wins 11. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $624,800 median home), income ($52,734 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Richmond, CA are about 2,692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.