Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Clifton
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $315k less ($112,600 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $761/mo less ($872 vs $1,633)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $47,444/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $47,444 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Brownsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$315k less
$112,600 vs $428,000
Brownsville
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Median Income
$47,444
$94,179 vs $46,735/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
64% lower
165.8 vs 456.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $428,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $94,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 34.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and Clifton 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 Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $428,000 median home), income ($46,735 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Clifton, NJ are about 1,682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.