Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 19 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $27,749/yr
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Hoover
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Hoover, AL
Pros
87% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $27,749 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$27,749
$101,765 vs $74,016/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 599.2 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $366,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 96.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 19 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 4 and Hoover 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $366,200 median home), income ($74,016 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Hoover, AL are about 1,049 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.