Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Brockton, MA
🏆 Abilene leads 17 of 22 categories
Abilene
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Brockton
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($161,800 vs $364,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (2.8%)
29% less violent crime than Brockton
Rent averages $386/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $14,762/yr
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $14,762 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
29% lower
424.5 vs 599.2 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$203k less
$161,800 vs $364,700
Abilene
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.2°F
Brockton
Median Income
$14,762
$74,016 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Brockton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $364,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $74,016 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 20.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 81.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Brockton |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 50.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 104,713 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Brockton's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Abilene leads 17 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 17 and Brockton wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Brockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $364,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $74,016), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Brockton, MA are about 1,703 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.