Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Hemet 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 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $24,115 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (8.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 20.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Hemet, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Brockton
Homes cost $88k less ($277,200 vs $364,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,446)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $24,115/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.2%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$24,115
$74,016 vs $49,901/yr
Brockton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
8.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Violent Crime
29% lower
424.8 vs 599.2 per 100k
Hemet
Median Home Value
$88k less
$277,200 vs $364,700
Hemet
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Hemet, 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 | $277,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hemet leads 13 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 10 and Hemet 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $277,200 median home), income ($74,016 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Hemet, CA are about 2,540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.