Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Garden Grove leads 12 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Garden Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
171,637
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $590k less ($112,600 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $1015/mo less ($872 vs $1,887)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Garden Grove by $39,404/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,404 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Brownsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$590k less
$112,600 vs $702,600
Brownsville
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 82.5°F
Garden Grove
Median Income
$39,404
$86,139 vs $46,735/yr
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
39% lower
276.6 vs 456.0 per 100k
Garden Grove
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 75.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 171,637 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Garden Grove leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Garden Grove 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 Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $702,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Garden Grove, CA are about 1,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.