Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $661k less ($364,700 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1303/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,749)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $48,932/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 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
86% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $48,932 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Brockton
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
$661k less
$364,700 vs $1,025,700
Irvine
Median Income
$48,932
$122,948 vs $74,016/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
86% lower
84.0 vs 599.2 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($74,016 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Irvine, CA are about 2,581 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.