Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Riverside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($364,700 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,711)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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)
Median income trails Riverside by $9,432/yr
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
Households earn $9,432 more per year on average
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$121k less
$364,700 vs $485,500
Riverside
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Income
$9,432
$83,448 vs $74,016/yr
Riverside
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Riverside wins 13. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $485,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Riverside, CA are about 2,554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.