Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 17 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($364,700 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $618/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,064)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $25,397/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 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $25,397 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$364k less
$364,700 vs $728,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
San Marcos
Median Income
$25,397
$99,413 vs $74,016/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
63% lower
222.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 17 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 6 and San Marcos wins 17. 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $728,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and San Marcos, CA are about 2,568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.