Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 20 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
The Woodlands
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($364,700 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,446 vs $1,723)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $68,368/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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $68,368 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Brockton
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$92k less
$364,700 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$68,368
$142,384 vs $74,016/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
61% lower
235.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 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" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 20 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 3 and The Woodlands wins 20. 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $456,400 median home), income ($74,016 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.