Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Brownsville
Texas
13
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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $31,950 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Brownsville
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($112,600 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $779/mo less ($872 vs $1,651)
52% less violent crime than Aurora
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $31,950/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$31,950
$78,685 vs $46,735/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Brownsville
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
52% lower
456.0 vs 947.8 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$297k less
$112,600 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 28.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 186,999 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora 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 Aurora to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $112,600 median home), income ($78,685 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Brownsville, TX are about 1,036 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.