Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 16 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Tampa
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $7,214 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
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 5.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Tampa, FL
Pros
26% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $32k less ($333,200 vs $364,700)
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Brockton by $7,214/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$7,214
$74,016 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
26% lower
444.6 vs 599.2 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$32k less
$333,200 vs $364,700
Tampa
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 16 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 7 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($74,016 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Tampa, FL are about 1,169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.