Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Brownsville
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.3%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Brownsville
Brownsville, TX
Pros
44% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Akron
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Median Home Value
$13k less
$99,700 vs $112,600
Brownsville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
44% lower
456.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Brownsville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $112,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $46,735 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 28.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 186,999 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Akron wins 9 and Brownsville wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Akron to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $112,600 median home), income ($46,596 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Brownsville, TX are about 1,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.