Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco 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
Frisco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $419k less ($112,600 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $931/mo less ($872 vs $1,803)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Commutes run 8 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 Frisco by $97,832/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.9%)
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $97,832 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Brownsville
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
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
$419k less
$112,600 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$97,832
$144,567 vs $46,735/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
78% lower
100.9 vs 456.0 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Frisco, 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 | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 42.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 28.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 14 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 9 and Frisco 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 Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $531,400 median home), income ($46,735 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Frisco, TX are about 496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.