Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Concord, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Concord
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($112,600 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($872 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 53°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $36,745/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Concord, NC
Pros
Households earn $36,745 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$176k less
$112,600 vs $288,100
Concord
Median Income
$36,745
$83,480 vs $46,735/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
65% lower
159.0 vs 456.0 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Concord, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.0 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $288,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,259 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $83,480 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Cabarrus County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 52.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 47.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 105,335 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 69.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Concord's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Brownsville wins 11 and Concord wins 11. 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 Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $288,100 median home), income ($46,735 vs $83,480), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Concord, NC are about 1,189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.