Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($364,700 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,861)
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $23,863/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.9%)
Norwalk, CT
Pros
86% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $23,863 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$127k less
$364,700 vs $491,800
Norwalk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$23,863
$97,879 vs $74,016/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
86% lower
85.0 vs 599.2 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 8 and Norwalk wins 15. 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 $491,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Norwalk, CT are about 141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.