Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton 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
Thornton
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $738/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $117k less ($328,100 vs $445,200)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $42,330/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $42,330 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$117k less
$328,100 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$42,330
$95,064 vs $52,734/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
63% lower
273.6 vs 742.9 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 72 ✓ 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- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 14 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 9 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($52,734 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Thornton, CO are about 1,763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.