Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Fontana
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($364,700 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,616)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $19,214/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.2%)
Fontana, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $19,214 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$142k less
$364,700 vs $506,600
Fontana
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$19,214
$93,230 vs $74,016/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
55% lower
270.2 vs 599.2 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Fontana 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 Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $506,600 median home), income ($74,016 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Fontana, CA are about 2,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.