Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 18 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Elgin
Illinois
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190 ✓ 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 30°F
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
Median income trails Elgin by $11,982/yr
Elgin, IL
Pros
55% less violent crime than Brockton
Homes cost $122k less ($242,500 vs $364,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.0%)
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,446)
Households earn $11,982 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Income
$11,982
$85,998 vs $74,016/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
55% lower
266.7 vs 599.2 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$122k less
$242,500 vs $364,700
Elgin
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Elgin, 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 | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 32.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 18 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 5 and Elgin wins 18. 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 Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $242,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Elgin, IL are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.