Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $13,829 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($171,800 vs $364,700)
29% less violent crime than Brockton
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,446)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $13,829/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$13,829
$74,016 vs $60,187/yr
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
29% lower
427.2 vs 599.2 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$193k less
$171,800 vs $364,700
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 8 and Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.