Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 21 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Rio Rancho
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($246,700 vs $364,700)
47% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$4,962
$78,978 vs $74,016/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
47% lower
318.2 vs 599.2 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$118k less
$246,700 vs $364,700
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 21 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 2 and Rio Rancho wins 21. 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $246,700 median home), income ($74,016 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.