An Overview of Cost of Living in Brockton, MA
The cost of living in Brockton affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Brockton is 127, which is 27% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Brockton is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Brockton falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Brockton cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 43.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Brockton, these items will cost you 21.6% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.
Is Brockton Affordable?
Wondering if Brockton is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Brockton, for example, the median home price is 51.4% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 25.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Brockton boasting a median household income of $62,249, which is 12.5% higher than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brockton?
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Brockton, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates begin at 5%.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Brockton, the transportation index is 17.5% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Brockton, the groceries index registers 5.3% higher than the national average.
Where is the Data From?
The Brockton cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.
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