What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

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	Webster
People
Population	105,386Highest	17,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.7±0.8Lowest 8% below MA	39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average
	Webster and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	25.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Brockton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,115±$3kHighest 23% below MA	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
	Brockton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,820Highest 20% below MA	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±4.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brockton and Webster 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%	12.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 8% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Webster and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#279 of 282 in MA	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Brockton	Webster
High school in town	Brockton High	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.0Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.