Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,821 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Brownsville
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($112,600 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $677/mo less ($872 vs $1,549)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $39,821/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$39,821
$86,556 vs $46,735/yr
Austin
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 91.9°F
Brownsville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
2% lower
456.0 vs 466.9 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$349k less
$112,600 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 28.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 186,999 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $112,600 median home), income ($86,556 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Brownsville, TX are about 298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.