Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $26,244/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
57% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $26,244 more per year on average
Homes cost $81k less ($246,700 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$26,244
$78,978 vs $52,734/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
57% lower
318.2 vs 742.9 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$81k less
$246,700 vs $328,100
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 104,351 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 4 and Rio Rancho wins 19. 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $246,700 median home), income ($52,734 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.