Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 17 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Waco
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Households earn $5,313 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($174,100 vs $328,100)
43% less violent crime than Fall River
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Fall River by $5,313/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fall River
Median Income
$5,313
$52,734 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
43% lower
425.9 vs 742.9 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$154k less
$174,100 vs $328,100
Waco
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 17 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 6 and Waco wins 17. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($52,734 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Waco, TX are about 1,600 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.