Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Tucson
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 100°F
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
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.5%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($218,200 vs $328,100)
21% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Median Income
$685
$52,734 vs $52,049/yr
Tucson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
21% lower
588.8 vs 742.9 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$110k less
$218,200 vs $328,100
Tucson
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 7 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $218,200 median home), income ($52,734 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Tucson, AZ are about 2,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.