Compare towns
Fall River vs Charlton vs Somerset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Fall River | Charlton | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
13,435Lowest |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43±4 8% above MA |
47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
| Somerset and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA |
$112,677±$6k 8% above MA |
| Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA |
$418,800±$18k 25% below MA |
| Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
$1,271±$93 28% below MA |
| Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,617 23% below MA |
$4,977Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Charlton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.7Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.