Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 19 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Roanoke
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Roanoke
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.6%)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($162,000 vs $328,100)
16% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $103/mo less ($917 vs $1,020)
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Median Income
$1,211
$52,734 vs $51,523/yr
Roanoke
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
16% lower
620.4 vs 742.9 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$166k less
$162,000 vs $328,100
Roanoke
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Roanoke
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 99,213 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 19 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 4 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $162,000 median home), income ($52,734 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Roanoke, VA are about 563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.