Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Brockton, MA
🏆 Aurora leads 17 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Brockton
Massachusetts
6
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
56% less violent crime than Brockton
Homes cost $123k less ($241,600 vs $364,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $11,927 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Aurora by $11,927/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$11,927
$85,943 vs $74,016/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
56% lower
266.0 vs 599.2 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$123k less
$241,600 vs $364,700
Aurora
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Brockton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $364,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $74,016 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 20.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 81.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Brockton |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 50.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 104,713 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Brockton's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 17 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 17 and Brockton wins 6. 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 Aurora to Brockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $364,700 median home), income ($85,943 vs $74,016), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Brockton, MA are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.