Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
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.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Households earn $13,893 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Brownsville
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($112,600 vs $172,700)
34% less violent crime than Amarillo
Rent averages $125/mo less ($872 vs $997)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Amarillo
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Amarillo by $13,893/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Median Income
$13,893
$60,628 vs $46,735/yr
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Brownsville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
34% lower
456.0 vs 690.5 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$60k less
$112,600 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 28.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 186,999 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Brownsville wins 11. 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 Amarillo to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $112,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Brownsville, TX are about 687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.