Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Brockton, MA
🏆 Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $63,371 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Brockton
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $469k less ($364,700 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $781/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,227)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $63,371/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 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$63,371
$137,387 vs $74,016/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
58% lower
254.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.2°F
Brockton
Median Home Value
$469k less
$364,700 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Brockton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $74,016 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 20.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 81.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Brockton |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 50.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 104,713 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Brockton's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 16 and Brockton wins 7. 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 Arlington to Brockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $364,700 median home), income ($137,387 vs $74,016), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Brockton, MA are about 388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.