Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine 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
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $913k less ($112,600 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1877/mo less ($872 vs $2,749)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Commutes run 4 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 Irvine by $76,213/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $76,213 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/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
$913k less
$112,600 vs $1,025,700
Brownsville
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$76,213
$122,948 vs $46,735/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
82% lower
84.0 vs 456.0 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Irvine, CA are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.