Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Lowell leads 13 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Lowell
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
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)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Lowell, MA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$1,008
$74,016 vs $73,008/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Lowell
Violent Crime
11% lower
532.5 vs 599.2 per 100k
Lowell
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 114,737 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lowell leads 13 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Lowell wins 13. 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $362,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Lowell, MA are about 41 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.