What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Rupert has the most homeowners (93.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fall River	Rupert
People
Population	94,082Highest	676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fall River and Rupert 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 30% below U.S.	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Rupert and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S.	$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Fall River and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$27 18% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S.	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fall River and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#262 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	—
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.