Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Edinburg, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Edinburg
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6
Median Household Income
$54,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $47k less ($112,600 vs $159,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Edinburg by $7,404/yr
Edinburg, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Brownsville
Households earn $7,404 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$47k less
$112,600 vs $159,600
Brownsville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 85.2 on the COL index
Edinburg
Median Income
$7,404
$54,139 vs $46,735/yr
Edinburg
Violent Crime
41% lower
269.6 vs 456.0 per 100k
Edinburg
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Edinburg, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 85.6 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $159,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $920 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $54,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 79.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | EDINBURG CISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 70.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 26.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 100,964 |
| Median Age | 30.7 ✓ Older | 29.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 27.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Edinburg's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 11 and Edinburg 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 Edinburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $159,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $54,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Edinburg, TX are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.