Arlington, MA vs Brockton, MA

The cost of living difference between Arlington, MA and Brockton, MA is dramatic. Brockton is 45.8% cheaper than Arlington, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Arlington has a cost index of 173 while Brockton sits at 119, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $2,043/month compared to $1,545/month in Brockton — a 32% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Brockton is more affordable at $405,500 median vs $885,000.

Median household income in Arlington is $141,440 compared to $77,089 in Brockton (+83.5%). While Arlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 24.1% in Brockton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 49.7°F). Brockton receives more rainfall at 53.3" per year compared to 42.6" in Arlington.