Barnstable Town, MA vs Fall River, MA

The cost of living difference between Barnstable Town, MA and Fall River, MA is dramatic. Fall River is 39.3% cheaper than Barnstable Town, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Barnstable Town has a cost index of 136 while Fall River sits at 98, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Barnstable Town is $1,751/month compared to $1,086/month in Fall River — a 61% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fall River is more affordable at $357,800 median vs $559,200.

Median household income in Barnstable Town is $97,348 compared to $53,933 in Fall River (+80.5%). While Barnstable Town is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Barnstable Town spend roughly 21.6% of their income on rent, less than the 24.2% in Fall River.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.5°F vs 50.4°F). Fall River receives more rainfall at 45.9" per year compared to 44.7" in Barnstable Town.