Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Torrance
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $598k less ($364,700 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $686/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $35,538/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)
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,538 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brockton
Median Home Value
$598k less
$364,700 vs $962,300
Brockton
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.2°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$35,538
$109,554 vs $74,016/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
48% lower
311.2 vs 599.2 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 15 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 8 and Torrance wins 15. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($74,016 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Torrance, CA are about 2,606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.