Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Brockton, MA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 18 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Brockton
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($246,000 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,446)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Brockton by $12,513/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Brockton, MA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $12,513 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°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 19% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$119k less
$246,000 vs $364,700
Albuquerque
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 84.2°F
Brockton
Median Income
$12,513
$74,016 vs $61,503/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
49% lower
599.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Brockton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $364,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $74,016 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 20.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 81.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Brockton |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 50.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 104,713 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Brockton's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 18 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 18 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 Albuquerque to Brockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $364,700 median home), income ($61,503 vs $74,016), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Brockton, MA are about 1,968 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.