Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Sacramento
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $572/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,592)
Homes cost $122k less ($328,100 vs $450,500)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $26,220/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,220 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Violent Crime
2% lower
742.9 vs 754.9 per 100k
Fall River
Median Home Value
$122k less
$328,100 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$26,220
$78,954 vs $52,734/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 10 and Sacramento wins 13. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $450,500 median home), income ($52,734 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Sacramento, CA are about 2,631 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.