Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Chicago, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Brockton
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Chicago, IL
Pros
10% less violent crime than Brockton
Homes cost $60k less ($304,500 vs $364,700)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $132/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,446)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$2,343
$74,016 vs $71,673/yr
Brockton
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 81.0°F
Chicago
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Violent Crime
10% lower
539.8 vs 599.2 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$60k less
$304,500 vs $364,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $304,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,314 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $71,673 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 15.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 34.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 38.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Chicago's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Brockton wins 11 and Chicago wins 11. 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 Chicago or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $304,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $71,673), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Chicago, IL are about 855 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.