Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance 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
Torrance
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $634k less ($328,100 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1112/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,132)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $56,820/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,820 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Fall River
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fall River
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$634k less
$328,100 vs $962,300
Fall River
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$56,820
$109,554 vs $52,734/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
58% lower
311.2 vs 742.9 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and Torrance 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $962,300 median home), income ($52,734 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Torrance, CA are about 2,604 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.