Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland leads 18 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Lakeland
Florida
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $15,726 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($207,800 vs $364,700)
91% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,446)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $15,726/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$15,726
$74,016 vs $58,290/yr
Lakeland
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
91% lower
56.0 vs 599.2 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$157k less
$207,800 vs $364,700
Lakeland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,217 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 114,404 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 18 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 5 and Lakeland wins 18. 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $207,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Lakeland, FL are about 1,147 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.