The Town FilesBrockton, Massachusetts
City in Plymouth County · population 105,643 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $437,500
- Household income
- $80,115
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 36.7
Brockton is a city of 105,643 people in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $437,500, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 95% of Massachusetts towns, better transit than 91% of Massachusetts towns.
How Brockton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brockton is worth $437,500, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $80,115, which is more affordable than 28% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,641 a month. 57.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brockton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $437,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,641 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $80,115 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 57.4% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Brockton
| People | Brockton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 33.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Brockton
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brockton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1953 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 6, 1999.
Severe weather in Plymouth County since 1996
Plymouth County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Plymouth County
Plymouth County had 194,985 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,858 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Brockton itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Brockton
24 public schools with 15,525 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brockton High | 9-12 | 3,586 | 17.6 |
| Edgar B Davis | K-8 | 944 | 16.3 |
| Louis F Angelo Elementary | K-5 | 835 | 15.8 |
| Oscar F Raymond | K-5 | 811 | 16.9 |
| Manthala George Jr. School | PK-5 | 778 | 17.3 |
| Dr W Arnone Community School | PK-5 | 763 | 15.9 |
| New Heights Charter School of Brockton (charter) | 6-12 | 730 | 16.6 |
| Mary E. Baker School | K-5 | 724 | 14.8 |
| Hancock | PK-5 | 666 | 17.1 |
| Plouffe Middle School | 6-8 | 629 | 13.1 |
| Downey | PK-5 | 599 | 15.0 |
| Ashfield Middle School | 6-8 | 517 | 14.0 |
Towns near Brockton
- Avon, MA3.8 mi · 4,777 people · home $509,600
- Abington, MA4.2 mi · 17,062 people · home $539,600
- West Bridgewater, MA4.2 mi · 7,707 people · home $503,800
- Holbrook, MA4.2 mi · 11,405 people · home $465,400
- Whitman, MA4.4 mi · 15,121 people · home $472,700
- Stoughton, MA4.8 mi · 29,281 people · home $523,800
- Easton, MA5.3 mi · 25,058 people · home $581,200
- East Bridgewater, MA5.3 mi · 14,440 people · home $510,200
Brockton questions
Is Brockton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brockton scores better for retirees than 1% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 3%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Brockton?
The median owner-occupied home in Brockton is valued at $437,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,115, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,641 a month.
What is the weather like in Brockton?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 34.3 inches of snow.
Does Brockton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brockton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)