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City · 94,082 residents · Bristol County, Massachusetts

Fall River , Massachusetts

In Fall River, a typical home is worth $395,500 and typical rent is $1,155 a month. Compared with all of Bristol County, typical household income is 34% lower, the typical home value is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 27 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $395,500

    12% below the county

    30% below Massachusetts

    • Fall River
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical rent

    $1,155a month

    7% below the county

    34% below Massachusetts

    • Fall River
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical household income

    $56,673a year

    34% below the county

    45% below Massachusetts

    • Fall River
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

  • Households that own their home

    35%

    27 points below the county

    27 points below Massachusetts

    • Fall River
    • Bristol
    • Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$448,192
2.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,888 a month
2.4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Fall River is in Bristol County. The FHA loan limit ($787,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Bristol County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Fall River apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 35% of households in Fall River own their home, against 62% in Bristol County.

  2. The typical household income in Fall River is $56,673, 34% less than in Bristol County as a whole ($85,625).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Fall River

What homes there are in Fall River, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes here are varied: buildings of 2 to 4 homes are 45% of them, more than in Bristol County (25%), and no kind reaches half.

Year built

Homes in Fall River are older: the typical year built is 1945; in Bristol County, 1964.

There are fewer big homes in Fall River than in Bristol County: 46% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Bristol County is high ($787,750): at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Fall River are worth less than $750,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Bristol County is $1,879; about 88% of rents in Fall River are below it.

With a mortgage

$2,123 a month

Bristol County: $2,394 a month

Without a mortgage

$820 a month

Bristol County: $886 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Bristol County: 66%

In Fall River, 63% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,123 a month, against $2,394 in Bristol County. Without one it drops to $820.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Fall River gained value faster than in Bristol County: 63% against 51%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Fall River rose 44%, more than in Bristol County (38%).

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 30%, while home values changed +63% and rent +44%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureFall RiverBristol CountyMassachusettsUnited States
Rental vacancy 2.9%2.1%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.3%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.3%2.1%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.202.432.442.53
Drive alone 71%75%61%69%
Carpool 15%9%7%9%
Public transit 2%2%7%3%
Walk or bike 4%2%5%3%
Work from home 7%11%19%15%
Other means 2%1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Bristol County, the rental vacancy rate in Fall River is 2.9%.

More households are short on space in Fall River: 3.3% have more than one person per room; in Bristol County, 2.1%.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.20 on average, against 2.43 in Bristol County.

In Fall River, 15% of workers share a car to get to work; in Bristol County, 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Fall River?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Fall River, worth $395,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 70% of the typical household income in Fall River, which is $56,673 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $141,430 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Bristol County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Fall River. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,843 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,300

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$388,336
Total interest
$558,724
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,679 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,322 a month

  • Tight

    $1,322 to $1,700 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,700 a month

    Your payment · 70%

Compared with the typical household income in Fall River ($56,673 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,300
Principal & interest$2,631
Property tax$330
Home insurance$165
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$175

You need at least $13,843 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Fall River and Bristol County

Fall River is in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Fall River's own numbers

Typical home value
$395,500
Typical monthly rent
$1,155
Typical yearly household income
$56,673
Households that own their home
35%
Effective property tax rate
1%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Bristol County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$787,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,668–$2,589
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.9%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Bristol County.

Everything about Bristol County

Buying

Buying a home in Fall River

A typical home in Fall River is worth $395,500: 12% below the county and 30% below Massachusetts. With the typical household income in Fall River ($56,673 a year), a typical home costs 7.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Fall River 7.0 years
  • Bristol 5.3 years
  • Massachusetts 5.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Bristol County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Bristol County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Bristol County.

Period County Massachusetts U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.1% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +93% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Fall River next to Bristol County, Massachusetts and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Fall River $395,500
  • Bristol $451,200
  • Massachusetts $562,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Fall River $1,155
  • Bristol $1,245
  • Massachusetts $1,762
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Fall River $56,673
  • Bristol $85,625
  • Massachusetts $103,960
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Fall River next to Bristol County and Massachusetts
Measure Fall River Bristol County Massachusetts U.S.
Typical home value $395,500 $451,200 $562,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,155 $1,245 $1,762 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $56,673 $85,625 $103,960 $80,734
Households that own their home 35% 62% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,953 $4,807 $5,992 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1% 1.07% 1.07% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 52% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Bristol County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Fall River

For a typical $395,500 home in Fall River, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Fall River's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,300a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,843
    Cash to close
    $25,708
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $175

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,228a month

    Down payment
    $19,775
    Cash to close
    $31,640
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $188

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,638a month

    Down payment
    $79,100
    Cash to close
    $90,965
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,003a month

    Down payment
    $59,325
    Cash to close
    $71,190
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Fall River and for Bristol County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Fall River

1%of the home’s value each year

$3,953 a year for the typical owner in Fall River.

  • Fall River 1%
  • Bristol 1.07%
  • Massachusetts 1.07%

What Massachusetts publishes Local senior exemption (clause 41C) (Massachusetts General Court (General Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Massachusetts

Flood risk in Bristol County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Bristol County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.9%
3,805
Of those, with NFIP insurance
56%
County Massachusetts U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.9% 3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 56% 50% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Fall River

Typical rent in Fall River is $1,155 a month: 7% below the county. In Fall River, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Bristol County; Fall River is in Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,879 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.13 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,423 $27.37 $56,920
1 bedroom $1,509 $29.02 $60,360
2 bedrooms $1,879 $36.13 $75,160
3 bedrooms $2,302 $44.27 $92,080
4 bedrooms $2,615 $50.29 $104,600

HUD splits this county into 4 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $1,668 to $2,589. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Bristol County

HUD splits this county into 4 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people liveFall River is in this area
8 towns in this area

Attleboro city, Fall River city, North Attleborough Town city, Rehoboth town, Seekonk town, Somerset town, Swansea town, Westport town

 $1,423$1,509$1,879$2,302$2,615$36.13
New Bedford, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
5 towns in this area

Acushnet town, Dartmouth town, Fairhaven town, Freetown town, New Bedford city

 $1,297$1,305$1,668$1,987$2,524$32.08
Taunton-Mansfield-Norton, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
5 towns in this area

Berkley town, Dighton town, Mansfield town, Norton town, Taunton city

 $1,517$1,666$2,179$2,596$2,864$41.90
Easton-Raynham, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
2 towns in this area

Easton town, Raynham town

 $1,971$2,209$2,589$3,085$3,651$49.79

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Fall River

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Fall River has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,560 in 02721 to $1,800 in 02720.

  • 02720 $1,800$2,210
  • 02721 $1,560$1,880
  • 02723 $1,660$2,030
  • 02724 $1,690$2,070

A ZIP code counts for Fall River when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Fall River

HUD lists 36 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fall River. These are the largest.

  • Sunset Hill 7 Sunset Hl, Fall River 02724 355 low-income homes · Run by Fall River Housing Authority · Average payment: $517 a month · Average wait: 34 months (508) 675-3500
  • Borden Street Housing 111 Borden St, Fall River 02721 261 homes, 260 low-income · For older adults
  • Mitchell HGTS. 2100 S Main St, Fall River 02724 259 homes, 258 low-income · Run by Fall River Housing Authority · Average payment: $490 a month · Average wait: 23 months (508) 675-3500
  • Holmes Apts 34 Whipple St, Fall River 02721 230 low-income homes · Run by Fall River Housing Authority · Average payment: $471 a month · Average wait: 18 months (508) 675-3500
  • Father Diaferio Village 220 Johnson St, Fall River 02723 224 low-income homes · Run by Fall River Housing Authority · Average payment: $652 a month · Average wait: 34 months (508) 675-3500

See all 125 buildings in Bristol County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Fall River

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Bristol County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Fall River

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Fall River or Bristol County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in Fall River the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Massachusetts

  • MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income. Offered by MassHousing.

    DeferredRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Fall River

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Fall River, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Catholic Social Services - Fall River

    1600 Bay St, Fall River · 6 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Portuguese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (508) 674-4681

  • Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc.

    1509 Hancock St, Quincy · 37 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 5 more
    (617) 479-8181

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of the South Shore DBA Neighborworks Housing Solutions

    422 Washington St, Quincy · 37 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (617) 770-2227

Every agency in Bristol County All counseling agencies in Massachusetts

Help in Spanish near Fall River

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Fall River

HUD’s record names them for Fall River or Bristol County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Fall River Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (508) 675-3500

8 other authorities have an office in Bristol County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Bristol County

These cities are also in Bristol County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Bristol County Housing in Massachusetts

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Fall River, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Bristol County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Fall River.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Fall River

Short answers with the numbers for Fall River and all of Bristol County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Fall River?

The typical home value in Fall River is $395,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Bristol County it is $451,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Fall River?

Typical rent in Fall River is $1,155 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Bristol County is $1,668–$2,589.

What is the FHA loan limit in Fall River?

Fall River uses the FHA limit for all of Bristol County (2026): $787,750 for a one-unit home and $1,514,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Fall River?

The typical homeowner in Fall River pays $3,953 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1% of the home’s value; in Bristol County, the rate is 1.07%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Fall River?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Bristol County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).