Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 19 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Chesapeake
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chesapeake by $18,687/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Chesapeake
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $18,687 more per year on average
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Chesapeake
Median Income
$18,687
$92,703 vs $74,016/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
43% lower
339.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$25k less
$339,500 vs $364,700
Chesapeake
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $92,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 73.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chesapeake is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 19 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 3 and Chesapeake wins 19. 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 Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $339,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Chesapeake, VA are about 468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.