Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Brownsville
Texas
14
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $11,614 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Brownsville
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($112,600 vs $202,900)
72% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $363/mo less ($872 vs $1,235)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 44°F
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baltimore by $11,614/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$11,614
$58,349 vs $46,735/yr
Brownsville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
72% lower
456.0 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$90k less
$112,600 vs $202,900
Brownsville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 28.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 186,999 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Baltimore 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 Baltimore to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $112,600 median home), income ($58,349 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Brownsville, TX are about 1,515 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.