Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Brockton leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Springfield
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $26,339 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (8.2%)
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 13% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($198,500 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $399/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $26,339/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$26,339
$74,016 vs $47,677/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
33% lower
599.2 vs 891.4 per 100k
Brockton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
8.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$166k less
$198,500 vs $364,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brockton leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($74,016 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Springfield, MA are about 78 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.