Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $503k less ($112,600 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $943/mo less ($872 vs $1,815)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $56,310/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,310 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Brownsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$503k less
$112,600 vs $616,000
Brownsville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Income
$56,310
$103,045 vs $46,735/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
8% lower
420.0 vs 456.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,815⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 29.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 82.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 66.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Carson wins 10. 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 Brownsville to Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $616,000 median home), income ($46,735 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Carson, CA are about 1,355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.