Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999
Gilbert
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($112,600 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $967/mo less ($872 vs $1,839)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $68,444/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.5%)
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $68,444 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Brownsville
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$342k less
$112,600 vs $454,300
Gilbert
Median Income
$68,444
$115,179 vs $46,735/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
71% lower
132.2 vs 456.0 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 7 and Gilbert wins 15. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $454,300 median home), income ($46,735 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Gilbert, AZ are about 994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.