Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Providence
Rhode Island
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $12,651 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Providence, RI
Pros
54% less violent crime than Brockton
Homes cost $72k less ($293,000 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,446)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $12,651/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$12,651
$74,016 vs $61,365/yr
Providence
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
54% lower
276.7 vs 599.2 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$72k less
$293,000 vs $364,700
Providence
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $293,000 median home), income ($74,016 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Providence, RI are about 27 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.