Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Brockton leads 12 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Syracuse
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $30,432 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Syracuse
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
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 16% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($117,900 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $514/mo less ($932 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $30,432/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$30,432
$74,016 vs $43,584/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
22% lower
599.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Syracuse
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$247k less
$117,900 vs $364,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brockton leads 12 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 12 and Syracuse wins 11. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($74,016 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Syracuse, NY are about 269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.