Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Fall River leads 15 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (8.4%)
Households earn $8,290 more per year on average
Rent averages $157/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,177)
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($111,200 vs $328,100)
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fall River by $8,290/yr
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 8.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Income
$8,290
$52,734 vs $44,444/yr
Fall River
Violent Crime
28% lower
742.9 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Fall River
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
8.4% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$217k less
$111,200 vs $328,100
Trenton
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fall River leads 15 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 15 and Trenton wins 8. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $111,200 median home), income ($52,734 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Trenton, NJ are about 218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.