Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713
Tacoma
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $51k less ($364,700 vs $415,300)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 5.4%)
Median income trails Tacoma by $5,069/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Households earn $5,069 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Violent Crime
44% lower
599.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Brockton
Median Home Value
$51k less
$364,700 vs $415,300
Brockton
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$5,069
$79,085 vs $74,016/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Tacoma wins 14. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($74,016 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Tacoma, WA are about 2,506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.