Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Fargo
North Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($112,600 vs $254,900)
8% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 17°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fargo
Cons
Median income trails Fargo by $17,697/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.6%)
Fargo, ND
Pros
Households earn $17,697 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 89.4 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
8% lower
456.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$142k less
$112,600 vs $254,900
Brownsville
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Median Income
$17,697
$64,432 vs $46,735/yr
Fargo
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 89.4 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $900 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Fargo 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 Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $254,900 median home), income ($46,735 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Fargo, ND are about 1,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.