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Living in
Brockton.
About
Life in Brockton
Living in Brockton means joining a dense, working-class city that's genuinely diverse and economically accessible compared to much of Greater Boston—with a median household income around $80,115 and median home values near $437,500, you're getting real affordability just 22 miles south of the city while still having reasonable commute options to jobs (average commute is about 32 minutes). The city's backbone is its Cape Verdean, Haitian, and African American communities, which have shaped a vibrant local culture reflected in festivals like the Cape Verdean Festival each July and the Downtown Arts and Music Festival, plus a surprisingly active arts scene anchored by the Brockton Symphony Orchestra and venues scattered throughout the city. Job-wise, the city functions as a major economic hub for southern Plymouth County, and with a 5.6% unemployment rate, opportunities are reasonably available, though you'll want to research your specific field since the economy here is still developing compared to central Boston.
Brockton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Foreign-Born
33.7%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics33.7% foreign-born, most often from Cabo Verde
Who lives in Brockton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brockton, the largest foreign-born group is from Cabo Verde (36.3%), and 20.8% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
25.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.6%
of households
Married Couples
39.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.88
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Brockton
In Brockton, rent runs 7% below the MA average, and home values are 22% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,820
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $504,762 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts above MA average
Unemployment in Brockton
Unemployment in Brockton is 1.1 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Brockton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.5 min avg
How Brockton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brockton, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brockton runs 63% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
538
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,403.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brockton Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Plymouth County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Plymouth County, which includes Brockton, the most common type is strong wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9,200 |
| 2024 | 14 | High Wind | $19,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45,400 |
| 2022 | 25 | Strong Wind | $52,200 |
| 2021 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 37 | Strong Wind | $171,100 |
| 2019 | 35 | Strong Wind | $139,700 |
| 2018 | 31 | Strong Wind | $189,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Plymouth County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Plymouth County, which includes Brockton, is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
56
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Plymouth County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brockton has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.2"
Annual Snowfall
34.3"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 21°F | 4.02" |
| Feb | 41°F | 22°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 5.23" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 4.53" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.44" |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.13" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.17" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 3.60" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.08" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 4.96" |
| Nov | 54°F | 34°F | 4.39" |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 5.06" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brockton
Brockton has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Good Samaritan Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
South Shore Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.3 mi away · South Weymouth
Norwood Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.8 mi away · Norwood
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.1 mi away · Milton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brockton
Brockton's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 22.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
25
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Brockton
Public · 2-year · 4,235 students · in-state tuition $5,472 · 23% graduate · median earnings $50,480 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 7,829 students · in-state tuition $12,194 · 60% graduate · median earnings $61,441 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,300 students · in-state tuition $9,186 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,527 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,780 students · in-state tuition $49,420 · 56% graduate · median earnings $69,321 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 525 students · in-state tuition $30,637 · 66% graduate · median earnings $84,123 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 185 students · in-state tuition $19,650 · 43% graduate · median earnings $62,057 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Adams National Historical Park, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brockton
Brockton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Adams National Historical Park (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
16 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
19 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
19 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
21 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brockton
Brockton Public Library
304 Main Street, Brockton
East Branch Library
54 Kingman Street, Brockton
West Branch Library
540 Forest Avenue, Brockton
Cities Near Brockton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brockton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brockton FAQ
Is Brockton, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Brockton's median rent is $1,641/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $80,115/year. Median home value is $437,500.
Is Brockton, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Brockton's violent crime rate was 538 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1404 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brockton, Massachusetts?⌄
Brockton has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brockton, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Brockton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,641/month and median household income is $80,115/year. The median home value is $437,500. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brockton, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Brockton is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from