Rent vs buy in Fall River, MA
In Fall River, Massachusetts, typical rent is $1,888 /mo and a typical home is $448,192.
Renting leads by $29k over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down are applied along with the typical rent and home value used for Fall River's area. The break-even point arrives in year 11.
Clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. The figures are estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes whenever you change a number.
- Renting has the lead
- $29k after 7 years
- Where costs balance
- In year 11 when owning catches up
- Actual expense of homeownership
- $3,953 a month year 1, against $1,888 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Fall River?
Over 7 years, renting costs $29,007 less when you include the money you receive after selling. Renting costs less during the first 10 years. Buying catches up during year 11.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with a mortgage payment in Fall River
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. At Fall River's typical price, these are all monthly costs for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,888 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,444 | $2,154 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $373 | 1% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $137 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $373 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,328 | $290 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $728 | Amount the cash would earn annually at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $187 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,953 | Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus both entries listed above |
The verdict for Fall River in numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $448,192
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,888 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Massachusetts, 1995 to 2025
- 5.1% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Fall River
- 1% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Fall River
- $137 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
In Fall River, what would make it flip?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict for Fall River changes, while all other figures stay the same.
Renting wins if
- We assume home prices rise by less than 5.9% each year, using 5.1%, Massachusetts's long-run rate.
- A mortgage rate above 6.09% remains in place.
- A home like this has a monthly rent below $2,200, compared with the typical $1,888 here.
- You make your move before year 11.
Buying wins if
- Home values rise by more than 5.9% each year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 6.09% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $2,200 monthly to rent.
- You remain in the home for 11 years or more.
How Fall River compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Fall River | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $448,192 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,888 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 19.8 (#340 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 6.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 65% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities elsewhere in Massachusetts
- For Boston, MA, renting comes out ahead by $10k.
- For Worcester, MA, renting comes out ahead by $8k.
- For Springfield, MA, buying comes out ahead by $18k.
- For Cambridge, MA, renting comes out ahead by $83k.
- For Lowell, MA, renting comes out ahead by $9k.
- For Brockton, MA, renting comes out ahead by $19k.
- For Lynn, MA, renting comes out ahead by $45k.
- For Quincy, MA, renting comes out ahead by $51k.
- For New Bedford, MA, renting comes out ahead by $40k.
- For Newton, MA, renting comes out ahead by $317k.
- The result is a toss-up for Lawrence, MA. Renting leads by $2k.
- For Somerville, MA, renting comes out ahead by $65k.