Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Brownsville leads 17 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 36°F
Households earn $5,292 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Dayton
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $26k less ($86,200 vs $112,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Brownsville by $5,292/yr
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Income
$5,292
$46,735 vs $41,443/yr
Brownsville
Violent Crime
66% lower
456.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Brownsville
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 10.0% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 86.7°F
Dayton
Median Home Value
$26k less
$86,200 vs $112,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 92.3 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 17 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 17 and Dayton wins 6. 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 Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $86,200 median home), income ($46,735 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Dayton, OH are about 1,221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.