Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Brockton leads 12 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $458k less ($364,700 vs $822,600)
18% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $345/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,791)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
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)
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Violent Crime
18% lower
599.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Brockton
Median Home Value
$458k less
$364,700 vs $822,600
Brockton
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$2,228
$76,244 vs $74,016/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brockton leads 12 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 12 and Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $822,600 median home), income ($74,016 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Los Angeles, CA are about 2,603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.