Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Erie leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $30,881 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Erie
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($101,500 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $637/mo less ($809 vs $1,446)
37% less violent crime than Brockton
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $30,881/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$30,881
$74,016 vs $43,135/yr
Brockton
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
37% lower
375.6 vs 599.2 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$263k less
$101,500 vs $364,700
Erie
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 5.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 22.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 43.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Erie is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Erie wins 14. 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 Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $101,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Erie, PA are about 464 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.