Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Denton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($112,600 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($872 vs $1,264)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $25,186/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.8%)
Denton, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,186 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$184k less
$112,600 vs $296,100
Denton
Median Income
$25,186
$71,921 vs $46,735/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
55% lower
204.2 vs 456.0 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Denton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,264 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $71,921 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 38.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 142,262 |
| Median Age | 30.7 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Denton 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $296,100 median home), income ($46,735 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Denton, TX are about 499 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.