Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Charleston
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($364,700 vs $438,900)
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $9,875/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.7%)
Charleston, SC
Pros
40% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,875 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$74k less
$364,700 vs $438,900
Charleston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$9,875
$83,891 vs $74,016/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
40% lower
357.6 vs 599.2 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 149,960 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 7 and Charleston wins 16. 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 Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $438,900 median home), income ($74,016 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Charleston, SC are about 805 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.