Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach 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
Huntington Beach
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $864k less ($112,600 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1446/mo less ($872 vs $2,318)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
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 Huntington Beach by $68,012/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,012 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/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
$864k less
$112,600 vs $976,800
Brownsville
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$68,012
$114,747 vs $46,735/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
55% lower
207.3 vs 456.0 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Huntington Beach, 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 | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $976,800 median home), income ($46,735 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,339 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.