Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford 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
Stamford
Connecticut
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $1109/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,129)
Homes cost $257k less ($328,100 vs $584,700)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $47,984/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $47,984 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$257k less
$328,100 vs $584,700
Stamford
Median Income
$47,984
$100,718 vs $52,734/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
79% lower
157.5 vs 742.9 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 14.1% ✓ 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 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $584,700 median home), income ($52,734 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Stamford, CT are about 135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.