Compare towns
Fall River vs Reading vs Reading
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%).
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 | Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
25,612Lowest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Fall River and Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | — | Reading |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | — | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.