Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Modesto
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Modesto
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $17k less ($364,700 vs $381,800)
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)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$641
$74,016 vs $73,375/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
9% lower
599.2 vs 655.7 per 100k
Brockton
Median Home Value
$17k less
$364,700 vs $381,800
Modesto
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 13 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 10 and Modesto 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Modesto, CA are about 2,631 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.