Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Rockford
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (8.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 29°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
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 11% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($114,100 vs $328,100)
Rent averages $114/mo less ($906 vs $1,020)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Median Income
$1,990
$52,734 vs $50,744/yr
Fall River
Violent Crime
31% lower
742.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Fall River
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
8.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$214k less
$114,100 vs $328,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 37.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rockford leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Rockford 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 Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $114,100 median home), income ($52,734 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Rockford, IL are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.