Brockton, MA is a quaint New England city with a rich history that dates back to the 1600s. During the American Civil War, Brockton was known as the largest producer of shoes. There was a lot of leather being produced in this town, and this continued well into the 20th century. It’s sometimes called the “City of Champions” because boxing champions Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler come from here. Brockton is actually made up of two villages, Montello and Campello. The Brockton Rox are the local baseball team. Brockton is also the four-time winner of the 100 Best Communities for Young People.
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Brockton, MA Population & Demographics
Brockton has a population of 95,594. Brockton’s population is 52.4% female and 47.6% male. Brockton is a relatively diverse city, and the 5 largest ethnic groups in Brockton are 44.1% African American, 30.8% White non-Hispanic, 9.17% other non-Hispanic, 5.36% White Hispanic, and 3.12% other Hispanic. The median age in Brockton is 35.7, so many families and young adults reside in Brockton. About 19% of Brockton graduates go on to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher. The crime rate in Brockton is 11% higher than the national average. But don’t let that sway you from thinking the town is not safe, there are many safe areas in Brockton to live in. The Brockton Police Department has 195 sworn officers assigned to the Patrol Division or the Operations Division, which includes detectives, narcotics, a gang unit, and the special weapons and tactics unit. In Brockton, the police are always working to make the city a safer place to live for its residents.
Brockton Cost of Living
The cost of living in Brockton is high, 20% over the national average, but it’s 8% cheaper than the Massachusetts average, which makes it an affordable place to live in the state. One reason for the high cost of living is that housing prices in Brockton are 18% higher than the national average, but housing in New England tends to be expensive, and housing in Brockton is 47% lower than the average in Massachusetts. Utilities in Brockton are 7% higher than the Massachusetts average and groceries are 3% higher than the state average. Transportation in Brockton is 9% more expensive than in the rest of the country.
A slight majority of Brockton residents own their homes. The homeownership rate in Brockton is 55%. The housing market in Brockton is considered to be one of the most competitive with homes being sold within 20 days for about 4% above the original asking price! The median price of a home in Brockton is $418,000 or $270 per square foot. The cost of homes in Brockton is increasing steadily by 21%, so you’ll want to buy your home there before prices continue to rise! Check out the many beautiful homes for sale in Brockton, MA.
About 45% of Brockton residents rent instead of own a home. The average rent in Brockton is $1,632 for an 835 square foot apartment. The rent trends in Brockton are projected to rise 2% in the next year!
Brockton, MA Neighborhoods
The most popular neighborhoods in Brockton are Brockton Heights, Clifton Heights, and Montello. Brockton Heights is a diverse, well-established neighborhood made up of affordable homes. The majority of residents in Clifton Heights own their homes, and it’s a great location for professionals. Montello is a diverse, upper-middle-class, family-oriented neighborhood.
Brockton, MA Weather
Brockton has a humid continental climate that is known for hot, humid summers, cold, snowy winters, and abundant precipitation. In the summer, Brockton is warm with highs of 77°F and lows of 60°F. Meanwhile, Brockton’s winters are cold with an average high temperature of 40°F and a low temperature of 18°F. The city gets a generous amount of precipitation each year with 50 inches of rain and 46.3 inches of snow. The best part about the cold is that Brockton residents can take advantage of the winter snows and go skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and cross country skiing.
Things to Do in Brockton
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Brockton, you’re not alone. We have the best Brockton attractions below:
Fuller Craft Museum
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Founded in 1946, the museum features a wide range of contemporary crafts from diverse origins and is the only museum of its kind in New England. You’ll find furniture, glass, ceramics, jewelry, wood, and textiles made by many craft artists. The outdoor sculpture exhibit includes sculptures made of materials found in nature. The museum also offers classes for adults such as pottery making, jewelry making, and Ukrainian egg decorating. Kids can take clay crafting, painting and drawing, and art studio classes. Fuller Craft Museum is a fun learning experience for all ages!
55 Oak St, Brockton, MA 02301, (508) 588-6000
Campanelli Stadium
Campanelli Stadium is the home of the Brockton Rox baseball team that is part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League summer league. The stadium opened in 2002 and seats about 6000 people. The stadium hosts a fun family festival every Sunday before afternoon home games. Activities include face painting, balloon-blowing, and playing catch on the field. Children can run the bases after the games and ask for autographs from the Rox players. Come to the game for Kids Eat Free Mondays, where children receive a voucher for food with every purchase of a box seat. Music concerts and other events are also held at the park.
1 Feinberg Way, Brockton, MA 02301, (508) 559-7000
Additional Things to do in and around Brockton
The City of Brockton is committed to providing quality parks for all its residents. Brockton Parks & Recreation currently has 10 parks where you can enjoy outdoor recreation, leisure, and nature preservation. Almost all the parks in Brockton are open to the public. Brockton also offers some convenient shopping, including Westgate Mall and Brockton East Shopping Plaza.
Brockton Restaurants
Brockton has plenty of good dining options to choose from, so we’ve listed the top-rated restaurants in Brockton for you to try out below:
JJ’s Caffe
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In October 2018, People Magazine chose JJ’s Caffe as the best breakfast in Massachusetts! The breakfast menu includes omelets, eggs benedict, and French toast with bananas and strawberries. JJ’s also has a great lunch menu, and they are vegetarian friendly and offer a variety of vegan options. The staff is very pleasant, courteous, and friendly.
610 N Main St, Brockton, MA 02301, (508) 510-4227
Cape Cod Café
The Cape Cod Café is a family business that opened its doors in 1939 and is known for its pizza! They never cut corners to ensure every pizza they make is as good as it was over 80 years ago. Some of their famous pizzas include the Tex Mex, chicken, and chili pizzas. Try the calzones, signature burgers, and sandwiches, such as the chicken Philly and meatball. In Brockton, the Cape Cod Café is a “must go” dining experience.
979 Main St, Brockton, MA 02301, (508) 583-9420
Map of Brockton, MA
Browse through this Brockton map for things to do, places to eat, stores to check out, and more!
Brockton Statistics & Information
Brockton is located in St. Plymouth County. The area codes for Brockton are 508 and 774. Brockton’s zip codes are 02301, 02302, 02303, 02304, and 02305. The elevation of Brockton is 112 feet. Brockton is in the Eastern Time Zone. Brockton is 21.52 square miles in area.
Jobs in Brockton, MA
The median household income in Brockton is $58,469, which is a 6.04% growth from last year! The city currently employs 46,949 residents. The largest industries in Brockton are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. the highest paying industries in Brockton are utilities, public administration, and professional, scientific, & technical services. The percentage of Brockton’s population living below the poverty line is 14.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty in Brockton are Females 25 – 34.
Most Brockton residents have an average commute time of 31 minutes, which is about 6 minutes longer than the national average. Some Brockton residents travel a bit further to Boston for various job opportunities. If you’re planning to commute to Boston for work, you can click here for directions from Brockton to Boston, which is 40 minutes away.
Schools in Brockton, MA
Those moving to Brockton will have the choice of some of the best educational resources and services out there through the Brockton Public Schools department. The most popular schools in Brockton are Joseph F. Plouffe Academy, Louis F Angelo Elementary, Brockton High School, and Hancock Elementary. All of these schools are highly rated in Brockton for their student’s academic achievement and diverse environment. High school graduation rates are 9% lower in Brockton than the Massachusetts average. In Brockton, about 19% of high school graduates continue on to learn more by attaining higher education. Many students love to take advantage of the free Brockton Public Library system’s three branches.
Living in Brockton Pros & Cons
- Pro: Education
- Pro: Arts and culture
- Con: Cost of living
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