Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Chandler, AZ
🏆 Chandler leads 16 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999
Chandler
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $311k less ($112,600 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $803/mo less ($872 vs $1,675)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $52,639/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.8%)
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $52,639 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Brownsville
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$311k less
$112,600 vs $423,900
Chandler
Median Income
$52,639
$99,374 vs $46,735/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
71% lower
133.4 vs 456.0 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Chandler, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 101.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $423,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,675⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $99,374 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 8.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 275,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Chandler's 101.4 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 16 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 6 and Chandler 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 Brownsville to Chandler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $423,900 median home), income ($46,735 vs $99,374), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Chandler, AZ are about 999 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.