Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($364,700 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $716/mo less ($1,446 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $37,701/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 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,701 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Home Value
$253k less
$364,700 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$37,701
$111,717 vs $74,016/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
50% lower
301.4 vs 599.2 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($74,016 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Tracy, CA are about 2,651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.