Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
San Marcos
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $401k less ($328,100 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1044/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,064)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $46,679/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,679 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$401k less
$328,100 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$46,679
$99,413 vs $52,734/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
70% lower
222.4 vs 742.9 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 94,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and San Marcos wins 16. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $728,800 median home), income ($52,734 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and San Marcos, CA are about 2,565 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.