Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Brownsville, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
14% less violent crime than Brownsville
Households earn $7,705 more per year on average
More college-educated — 24.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Brownsville
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.3%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($112,600 vs $227,200)
Rent averages $497/mo less ($872 vs $1,369)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.3%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bridgeport by $7,705/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$7,705
$54,440 vs $46,735/yr
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
14% lower
392.9 vs 456.0 per 100k
Brownsville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$115k less
$112,600 vs $227,200
Brownsville
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.5% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $112,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $872 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $46,735 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% ✓ Higher | 69.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | BROWNSVILLE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 28.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 186,999 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Brownsville's 85.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport to Brownsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $112,600 median home), income ($54,440 vs $46,735), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Brownsville, TX are about 1,736 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.