Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
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 $159,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Rent averages $104/mo less ($872 vs $976)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Paso by $8,975/yr
El Paso, TX
Pros
39% less violent crime than Brownsville
Households earn $8,975 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 90.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$47k less
$112,600 vs $159,300
Brownsville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
El Paso
Median Income
$8,975
$55,710 vs $46,735/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
39% lower
278.4 vs 456.0 per 100k
El Paso
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 90.2 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $159,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $976 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $55,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 27.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 81.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 677,181 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 9 and El Paso wins 14. 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 El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $159,300 median home), income ($46,735 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and El Paso, TX are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.