Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose 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
Population
93,638
San Jose
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $822k less ($328,100 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1506/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,526)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $83,276/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $83,276 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.7%)
18% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$822k less
$328,100 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Median Income
$83,276
$136,010 vs $52,734/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
18% lower
606.8 vs 742.9 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 13 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 10 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($52,734 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and San Jose, CA are about 2,682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.