Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 15 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Fullerton
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $426k less ($364,700 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $543/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,989)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $25,263/yr
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.9%)
Fullerton, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $25,263 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Median Home Value
$426k less
$364,700 vs $791,000
Fullerton
Median Income
$25,263
$99,279 vs $74,016/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
24% lower
455.3 vs 599.2 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 15 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 8 and Fullerton wins 15. 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $791,000 median home), income ($74,016 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Fullerton, CA are about 2,583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.