Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Conroe, TX
🏆 Conroe leads 12 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Conroe
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($112,600 vs $262,500)
Rent averages $383/mo less ($872 vs $1,255)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails Conroe by $24,895/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.4%)
Conroe, TX
Pros
Households earn $24,895 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$150k less
$112,600 vs $262,500
Conroe
Median Income
$24,895
$71,630 vs $46,735/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
47% lower
243.5 vs 456.0 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Conroe, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $262,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $71,630 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 62.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 51.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 92,475 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Conroe's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Conroe leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Conroe wins 12. 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 Conroe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $262,500 median home), income ($46,735 vs $71,630), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Conroe, TX are about 322 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.