Brockton 74 Excellent
Brockton Livability #90 ranked city in Massachusetts#4,730 ranked city in the USARanks better than 83% of areas
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Brockton, MA - The City of Champions

Brockton, MA, known as 'The City of Champions,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Plymouth County, Brockton is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Boston (25 miles) and Providence, RI (33 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Brockton's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.

Brockton is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Fuller Craft Museum, the historic Brockton Fire Museum, and the scenic D.W. Field Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Ames Nowell State Park to the bustling Westgate Mall, known for its shopping and dining. Brockton's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from New England cuisine to international dishes.

Annual events such as the Brockton Fair and the Brockton Holiday Parade highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Brockton's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Massasoit Community College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.

The arts and culture scene in Brockton is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Brockton Symphony Orchestra and the Rox Concert Series are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Brockton provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.

Brockton’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Brockton Rox (baseball) and the New England Patriots (NFL) in nearby Foxborough, providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Brockton include healthcare, education, and retail, with significant employers such as Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital and Brockton Public Schools driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and commuter rail services, making commuting convenient for residents...

Pros and Cons of Living in Brockton

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Based on the most recent cost of living data, this area is more expensive to live in. You can expect to pay more for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries and utilities.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.

What's it like Living in Brockton?

Located in the state of Massachusetts, Brockton is a moderately-sized city with a population of 98,714 residents. With a population density of 4,630 people per square mile, Brockton is well above the nation's average density level. Brockton is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (34%) and Black or African American (44%). Brockton is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 45% married, this city falls well below the national average. An important consideration when living in Brockton is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 31 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Brockton could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Massachusetts if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. The best areas in Brockton and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from amenities, commute, health & safety, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Massachusetts and national averages.

Brockton has a livability score of 73 out of 100 and is ranked #93 in Massachusetts and #4,559 in the USA. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Brockton has higher than average rankings for the following: employment (B-) and housing (A+). Brockton does not rank well for the following: amenities (F), crime (F), cost of living (F) and education (D). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Brockton has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Brockton. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Brockton are affordable. Median real estate prices in Brockton come in at $515,496, which is 17.4% lower than the Massachusetts average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Brockton, the home price to income ratio is 5.5, which is 6.8% lower than the Massachusetts average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Brockton

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      Brockton transportation information

      Statistic Brockton Massachusetts National
      Average one way commute31min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work74.5%71.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.5%7.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit6.5%9.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.9%4.9%2.8%
      Working from home2.6%4.7%4.6%
      Source: The Brockton, MA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.