Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Brockton, MA
🏆 Allen leads 19 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444 ✓ Larger
Brockton
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
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.
Allen, TX
Pros
82% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $47,243 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Brockton, MA
Pros
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,747)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Homes cost $26k less ($364,700 vs $390,200)
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $47,243/yr
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$47,243
$121,259 vs $74,016/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
82% lower
106.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.2°F
Brockton
Median Home Value
$26k less
$364,700 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Brockton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $74,016 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 20.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 81.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Brockton |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 50.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 ✓ Larger | 104,713 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Brockton's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Allen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 19 of 23 categories. Allen wins 19 and Brockton wins 4. 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 Allen to Brockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $364,700 median home), income ($121,259 vs $74,016), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Brockton, MA are about 1,527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.