Who We Are
Demographics
A Portrait of Fall River
Fall River is the tenth-largest city in Massachusetts, with about 94,000 residents on roughly 33 square miles along Mount Hope Bay. Once the textile capital of America, it remains a densely settled, diverse, and historically working-class city.
Population & Households
- Population: ~94,000 (2020 Census: 93,906).
- Land area: ~33 square miles.
- Density: ~2,860 residents per square mile.
- Households: ~42,000.
Race & Ethnicity
- White: ~70%
- Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~13%
- Black or African American: ~6%
- Asian / Two or more / Other: remainder
- Foreign-born: roughly a quarter of residents.
- Language: a large share speak a language other than English at home, reflecting deep Portuguese roots.
Economy & Education
- Median household income: ~$56,700.
- Poverty rate: ~19%.
- Home to: Bristol Community College (founded 1966).
- Top sectors: health care, retail, and construction.
Registered Voters
According to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Fall River has about 56,300 registered voters — the large majority unenrolled (independent).
- Total registered: 56,321
- Unenrolled: 36,272
- Democrat: 14,907
- Republican: 4,447
- Other / political designations: 695
Students
- Public school enrollment: ~11,000 (Fall River Public Schools).
- Schools: roughly 19, including B.M.C. Durfee High School.
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts and American Community Survey; Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth (voter enrollment); Massachusetts DESE. Figures rounded; accurate as of summer 2026.
See how Fall River compares across the Commonwealth.