Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 14 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Phoenix
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Phoenix
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.2%)
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,446)
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$1,924
$74,016 vs $72,092/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
25% lower
599.2 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$25k less
$340,200 vs $364,700
Phoenix
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ 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 | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 14 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 8 and Phoenix wins 14. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $340,200 median home), income ($74,016 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Phoenix, AZ are about 2,293 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.