Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
St. Paul
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 24°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Paul by $17,185/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $17,185 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Homes cost $63k less ($264,900 vs $328,100)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Income
$17,185
$69,919 vs $52,734/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
17% lower
617.7 vs 742.9 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$63k less
$264,900 vs $328,100
St. Paul
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ 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 | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and St. Paul wins 14. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $264,900 median home), income ($52,734 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,125 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.