Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Columbus leads 16 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Columbus
Ohio
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $11,022 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Columbus
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($212,500 vs $364,700)
27% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,446)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $11,022/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$11,022
$74,016 vs $62,994/yr
Columbus
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
27% lower
434.9 vs 599.2 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$152k less
$212,500 vs $364,700
Columbus
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 13.8% ✓ 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 | 114⚠ 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) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 42.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 16 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 7 and Columbus 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 Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $212,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Columbus, OH are about 639 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.