Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Oakland leads 12 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Oakland
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $519k less ($364,700 vs $883,800)
69% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $403/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,849)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oakland by $20,373/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.8%)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,373 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Violent Crime
69% lower
599.2 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Brockton
Median Home Value
$519k less
$364,700 vs $883,800
Brockton
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$20,373
$94,389 vs $74,016/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oakland leads 12 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 11 and Oakland wins 12. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $883,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Oakland, CA are about 2,689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.