City Comparison
Cambridge vs Fall River
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cambridge scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cambridge
Fall River
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Fall River is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
40% lower than in Cambridge.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cambridge's average rent is
100% higher than Fall River's.
| Metric | Cambridge | Fall River | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,100 | $1,550 | +100% |
| Groceries | $520 | $420 | +24% |
| Utilities | $210 | $210 | 0% |
| Transport | $100 | $110 | -9% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $240 | +17% |
| Monthly Total | $4,210 | $2,530 | +66% |
| Cost Index | 165 | 98 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cambridge offers 59% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Fall River delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cambridge is estimated at
$85,000 vs $52,000 in Fall River.
| Metric | Cambridge | Fall River |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 55,758 idx | 59,184 idx |
| Household Income | $118,500 | $53,400 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.4°F of each other.
For sunshine, Fall River comes out ahead with 14 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Cambridge sees 8.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cambridge | Fall River |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.00°F | 51.40°F |
| Summer High | 80.50°F | 78.50°F |
| Winter Low | 20.60°F | 22.50°F |
| Rainfall | 40.20 in | 43.10 in |
| Snowfall | 25.00 in | 16.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 250 | 264 |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Cambridge scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cambridge leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cambridge | Fall River |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 91.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cambridge is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Fall River.
From a growth perspective, Cambridge is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cambridge has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cambridge | Fall River |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,258 | 94,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 5.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cambridge
Advantages
World-class public transit and pedestrian infrastructure with a Walk Score over 90 per Redfin 2025 data
Global epicenter for biotechnology and life sciences careers centered around Kendall Square per BLS 2025 reports
Home to two top-tier global universities (Harvard and MIT) driving an intellectually vibrant cultural scene
Exceptionally low violent crime rate relative to national urban averages per FBI crime data 2025
Extensive green spaces, including miles of accessible waterfront along the Charles River Esplanade
Drawbacks
Extremely high cost of living, with average rents exceeding 3,000 USD per Zillow 2025 market reports
Severe housing shortage and hyper-competitive real estate market driving up purchase prices
Heavy traffic congestion and limited street parking for vehicle owners
State and local tax burdens that trend higher than the national average
Significant seasonal population fluctuations driven by the academic calendar
Fall River
Advantages
Median home prices are significantly more affordable than the greater Boston and Providence averages per Zillow 2024 data.
Direct MBTA commuter rail access to Boston improves regional transit connectivity.
Rich cultural heritage featuring renowned Portuguese cuisine, bakeries, and annual festivals.
Strategic coastal location along Mount Hope Bay with proximity to Newport and Cape Cod.
Active downtown revitalization and infrastructure investments fostering local business growth.
Drawbacks
Higher-than-average state utility rates impact monthly household electricity and heating budgets.
Certain urban core neighborhoods experience higher property crime rates than surrounding suburbs.
Public school performance metrics lag behind state averages according to Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Ongoing traffic congestion along major highway arteries during peak commuting hours.
Aging housing stock in older districts may require significant renovation and maintenance investments.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cambridge
#424Massachusetts, USA
57.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,100
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
165
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
85.0/100
Walkability
91.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
51.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
92
Fall River
#530Massachusetts, USA
50.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,550
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
264/yr
Avg Temp
51.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
5.80%
Livability
71
Business
65
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