Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Households earn $17,291 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Brownsville
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($112,600 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $513/mo less ($872 vs $1,385)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $17,291/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$17,291
$64,026 vs $46,735/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
23% lower
350.0 vs 456.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Brownsville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$416k less
$112,600 vs $528,600
Brownsville
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 28.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 186,999 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham 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 Bellingham to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $112,600 median home), income ($64,026 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Brownsville, TX are about 2,069 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.