Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($328,100 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $748/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $51,463/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $51,463 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$324k less
$328,100 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$51,463
$104,197 vs $52,734/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
79% lower
152.5 vs 742.9 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $651,800 median home), income ($52,734 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 2,274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.