Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 16 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Santa Clarita
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($364,700 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $869/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $42,170/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 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Brockton
Households earn $42,170 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Median Home Value
$305k less
$364,700 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$42,170
$116,186 vs $74,016/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
72% lower
165.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 16 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 7 and Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $669,200 median home), income ($74,016 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.