Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
Households earn $33,508 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
29% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Brownsville
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $807k less ($112,600 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $981/mo less ($872 vs $1,853)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $33,508/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$33,508
$80,243 vs $46,735/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
29% lower
322.3 vs 456.0 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Brownsville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$807k less
$112,600 vs $919,700
Brownsville
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 28.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 186,999 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $112,600 median home), income ($80,243 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Brownsville, TX are about 1,068 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.