Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Cambridge leads 13 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Cambridge
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $633k less ($364,700 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1182/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,628)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $47,523/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 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $47,523 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.3%)
27% less violent crime than Brockton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$633k less
$364,700 vs $997,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Cambridge
Median Income
$47,523
$121,539 vs $74,016/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
27% lower
436.7 vs 599.2 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 117,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 13 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Cambridge wins 13. 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 Brockton to Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $997,600 median home), income ($74,016 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Cambridge, MA are about 21 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.