Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 14 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($112,600 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $839/mo less ($872 vs $1,711)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $50,572/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $50,572 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Brownsville
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$284k less
$112,600 vs $396,100
Goodyear
Median Income
$50,572
$97,307 vs $46,735/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
60% lower
182.2 vs 456.0 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $396,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 66.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 14 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 8 and Goodyear 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $396,100 median home), income ($46,735 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Goodyear, AZ are about 1,025 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.