Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 14 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Riverside
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $691/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,711)
Homes cost $157k less ($328,100 vs $485,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $30,714/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,714 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$157k less
$328,100 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$30,714
$83,448 vs $52,734/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
21% lower
589.7 vs 742.9 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Riverside wins 14. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $485,500 median home), income ($52,734 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Riverside, CA are about 2,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.