Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks 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
Sparks
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $506/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,526)
Homes cost $95k less ($328,100 vs $423,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $30,204/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $30,204 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$95k less
$328,100 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$30,204
$82,938 vs $52,734/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
47% lower
394.4 vs 742.9 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 104⚠ 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) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $423,500 median home), income ($52,734 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Sparks, NV are about 2,519 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.