City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Fall River, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fall River - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

93,764
Residents
$53,933
Median income
$357,800
Median home
$1,527
Median rent (state)

Fall River - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Fall River places in the 26th percentile for household income and the 29th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

26th
percentile, household income
73rd
percentile, home value
60th
percentile, median rent
29th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fall River, MA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 93,764 residents in Fall River, a small city within Massachusetts. Fall River households earn a median of $53,933 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 18.8%. Home values in Fall River run a median of $357,800, and the median resident age is 39.0 years. About 16.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 63 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 2% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2134.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,527 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Massachusetts's average monthly utility costs around $330 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 89.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

93,764 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$53,933 /yr

Poverty 18.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Fall River compare to other US cities?

Where Fall River sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 26% higher than other cities
Home value 73% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% pricier than other cities
Safety 29% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Massachusetts, Fall River ranks #138 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fall River against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Massachusetts only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Massachusetts-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Fall River near the bottom of Massachusetts's cities

Among the 247 Massachusetts cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fall River ranks #235 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fall River only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#224 of 233
4th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Gross Rent
#235 of 247
0th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Home Value
#188 of 240
22nd percentile in Massachusetts
Poverty Rate
#5 of 247
98th percentile in Massachusetts
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#236 of 247
4th percentile in Massachusetts

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Massachusetts only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

26thIncome percentile
29thSafety percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income · 29th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fall River's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fall River's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 30 Avg. percentile National median
Fall River's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fall River's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$357,800 27th percentile more affordable than 27% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fall River $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fall River, MA Fall River, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fall River, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fall River, MA median $53,933/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fall River, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fall River, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
93,764
Median Income
$53,933
Median Home Value
$357,800
Median Age
39.0
Poverty Rate
18.8%
Labor force participation
56.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2134.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
742.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1391.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
20
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
93,500 residents94,000 residents94,500 residents95,000 residents95,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 93,906 residents 95,298 residents ▲ +1.5%
Fall River's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
63
housing units authorized
Single-Family
63
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 62
2020 58
2021 72
2022 61
2023 55
2024 63

Permit volume increased 2% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.4%
Carpool
14.6%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
3.9%
Work from Home
6.5%
Other
1.3%

Based on 42,021 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fall River sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,527/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Newton
88,504 people
Lawrence
88,297 people
New Bedford
100,731 people
Lynn
100,905 people
Quincy
101,361 people
Brockton
105,080 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fall River's 93,764 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Toms River, NJ
93,915 people
Atascocita, TX
93,926 people
Plantation, FL
94,002 people
Compton, CA
93,525 people
Carson, CA
93,523 people
Livonia, MI
94,058 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fall River's $53,933 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Marlow, OK
$53,932 median income
Guaynabo zona urbana, PR
$53,936 median income
Goodland, KS
$53,929 median income
East Jordan, MI
$53,929 median income
Choteau, MT
$53,929 median income
Milledgeville, OH
$53,929 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fall River, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fall River, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 72.8% 6.4% 7.0% 11.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.2% White 72.8% Black or African American 6.4% Asian 2.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 7.0% Two or more races 11.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fall River compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fall River (this city) 93,764 $53,933
Newton 88,504 $184,989
Lawrence 88,297 $57,903
New Bedford 100,731 $56,025
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fall River, MA?

What is the population of Fall River, MA? +

93,764 people live in Fall River, MA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fall River, MA? +

The median household income in Fall River is $53,933 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fall River? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fall River; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is Fall River, MA safe? +

Fall River has a total crime rate of 2134.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fall River, MA? +

A typical home in Fall River is worth $357,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.