Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 19 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Hampton
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $9,586 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Hampton
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($219,800 vs $364,700)
59% less violent crime than Brockton
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $9,586/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$9,586
$74,016 vs $64,430/yr
Hampton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
59% lower
247.6 vs 599.2 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$145k less
$219,800 vs $364,700
Hampton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Hampton
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $64,430 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 7.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 47.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 19 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 4 and Hampton wins 19. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $219,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Hampton, VA are about 447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.