Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Brockton
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($364,700 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,860)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $17,243/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $17,243 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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 Home Value
$228k less
$364,700 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$17,243
$91,259 vs $74,016/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
38% lower
374.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 5.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Brockton wins 11 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $593,100 median home), income ($74,016 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Norwalk, CA are about 2,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.