Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Fargo
North Dakota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $9,584 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fargo
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $546/mo less ($900 vs $1,446)
Homes cost $110k less ($254,900 vs $364,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.6%)
17% less violent crime than Brockton
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Brockton by $9,584/yr
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$9,584
$74,016 vs $64,432/yr
Fargo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Violent Crime
17% lower
498.2 vs 599.2 per 100k
Fargo
Median Home Value
$110k less
$254,900 vs $364,700
Fargo
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $254,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $64,432 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 10 and Fargo wins 13. 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 Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $254,900 median home), income ($74,016 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Fargo, ND are about 1,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.