Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 13 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Santa Clara
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $1076k less ($364,700 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1395/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,841)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $91,336/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%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $91,336 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Brockton
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Median Home Value
$1076k less
$364,700 vs $1,440,200
Brockton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$91,336
$165,352 vs $74,016/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
70% lower
182.0 vs 599.2 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 21.9% ✓ 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 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 13 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 10 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($74,016 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.