Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Rochester
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $29,860 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($111,400 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $451/mo less ($995 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $29,860/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$29,860
$74,016 vs $44,156/yr
Rochester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
3% lower
582.3 vs 599.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$253k less
$111,400 vs $364,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 11 and Rochester wins 12. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($74,016 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Rochester, NY are about 343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.