Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie leads 12 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999
Grand Prairie
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($112,600 vs $242,900)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($872 vs $1,381)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Prairie
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Grand Prairie by $29,891/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
Households earn $29,891 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 26.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,381/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Brownsville
Longer commutes — 28.1 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
$130k less
$112,600 vs $242,900
Grand Prairie
Median Income
$29,891
$76,626 vs $46,735/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
51% lower
221.2 vs 456.0 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Grand Prairie, 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 | $242,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,381⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $76,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 26.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 81.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 197,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 27.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 11 and Grand Prairie 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 Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $242,900 median home), income ($46,735 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Grand Prairie, TX are about 463 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.