Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Brockton leads 13 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Lancaster
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,576)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Households earn $2,649 more per year on average
Cons
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)
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
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 Income
$2,649
$74,016 vs $71,367/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
28% lower
599.2 vs 834.7 per 100k
Lancaster
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 8.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brockton leads 13 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 13 and Lancaster wins 10. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $368,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Lancaster, CA are about 2,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.