Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $573k less ($364,700 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $804/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,250)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $61,592/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 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $61,592 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Brockton
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Median Home Value
$573k less
$364,700 vs $937,700
Brockton
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$61,592
$135,608 vs $74,016/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
90% lower
60.6 vs 599.2 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 7 and Kirkland 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $937,700 median home), income ($74,016 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Kirkland, WA are about 2,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.