Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 14 of 22 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($328,100 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $957/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,977)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $27,537/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.5%)
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,537 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Fall River
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.5%)
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/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
$449k less
$328,100 vs $777,100
Westminster
Median Income
$27,537
$80,271 vs $52,734/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
41% lower
436.2 vs 742.9 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Westminster, 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 | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Westminster leads 14 of 22 categories. Fall River wins 8 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $777,100 median home), income ($52,734 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Westminster, CA are about 2,588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.