What it's like to live in Brockton
Brockton is a mid-size city in Massachusetts with air quality that stays clean most of the year and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Brockton deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, and crime rates above the national average.
The good
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Below-average hospital ratings
How Brockton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Brockton
Based on Brockton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,282
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,640 a year
- 52% of Brockton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,750
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 16% above US
$1,641/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,641 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $437,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $437,500 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 30% above US
5.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.6%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 63% above US
538 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1404/100k · Brockton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 21% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.5 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 38% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
25 public schools inside the boundary
There are 25 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Adams National Historical Park (12 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Brockton's strongest point is air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,641/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Brockton
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Randolph Town →
7 mi away · pop. 34,878
Rent $2,103/mo · Income $109,573
Compare with Brockton →Moving to Bridgewater Town →
8 mi away · pop. 28,471
Rent $2,092/mo · Income $112,651
Compare with Brockton →Not sure Brockton is the one?
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