Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Brownsville
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Brownsville
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($112,600 vs $242,300)
Rent averages $173/mo less ($872 vs $1,045)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Median Income
$1,063
$47,798 vs $46,735/yr
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
11% lower
406.1 vs 456.0 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Brownsville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$130k less
$112,600 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 28.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 186,999 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 10 and Brownsville wins 13. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $112,600 median home), income ($47,798 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Brownsville, TX are about 1,005 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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