Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins 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
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($364,700 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.3%)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Brockton
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Households earn $4,961 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$133k less
$364,700 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$4,961
$78,977 vs $74,016/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.7 vs 599.2 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $497,400 median home), income ($74,016 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,758 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.