Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 16 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Brownsville
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735 ✓ Higher
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.3%)
Median income trails Brownsville by $4,271/yr
Brownsville, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Rent averages $123/mo less ($872 vs $995)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Households earn $4,271 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Income
$4,271
$46,735 vs $42,464/yr
Brownsville
Violent Crime
63% lower
456.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$10k less
$112,600 vs $123,000
Brownsville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $46,735 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 28.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 186,999 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 7 and Brownsville wins 16. 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 Birmingham to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $112,600 median home), income ($42,464 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Brownsville, TX are about 823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.