Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $14,450/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
61% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $61k less ($304,000 vs $364,700)
Households earn $14,450 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$14,450
$88,466 vs $74,016/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
61% lower
235.7 vs 599.2 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$61k less
$304,000 vs $364,700
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 7 and San Tan Valley wins 16. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $304,000 median home), income ($74,016 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.