What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brockton has the most kids (25.3% under 18).

Haverhill has the most people working from home (12.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brockton	Haverhill
People
Population	105,386Highest	67,698Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+11.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.7±0.8Lowest 8% below MA	39.4±1.1Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±1.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Haverhill and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	32.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,115±$3kLowest 23% below MA	$88,326±$4kHighest 15% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,500±$8kLowest 22% below MA	$453,900±$9kHighest 19% below MA
	Haverhill and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,641±$52Lowest 7% below MA	$1,668±$49Highest 5% below MA
	Haverhill and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,820Highest 20% below MA	$4,772Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.2%±5.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Haverhill and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.5%Highest MA: 10%	11.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 8% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#279 of 282 in MA	#243 of 282 in MA
School district	Brockton	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Brockton High	Haverhill High
Students per teacherat that high school	17.0Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.