Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 19 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,699)
Homes cost $48k less ($364,700 vs $412,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $31,663/yr
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $31,663 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$48k less
$364,700 vs $412,500
Plano
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$31,663
$105,679 vs $74,016/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
75% lower
151.6 vs 599.2 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 4 and Plano wins 19. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $412,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Plano, TX are about 1,533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.