Fall River, MA vs Springfield, MA

Springfield is moderately more affordable than Fall River, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. Fall River scores 98 compared to 86 for Springfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fall River can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fall River is $1,086/month compared to $1,114/month in Springfield — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fall River has cheaper rent, Springfield actually has lower median home values ($222,700 vs $357,800).

Median household income in Fall River is $53,933 compared to $51,339 in Springfield (+5.1%). Fall River does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Fall River spend roughly 24.2% of their income on rent, less than the 26% in Springfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.4°F vs 49.4°F). Fall River receives more rainfall at 45.9" per year compared to 45.2" in Springfield.