Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $825k less ($112,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1378/mo less ($872 vs $2,250)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $88,873/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $88,873 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Brownsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$825k less
$112,600 vs $937,700
Brownsville
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$88,873
$135,608 vs $46,735/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 456.0 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Brownsville wins 11 and Kirkland wins 11. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $937,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Kirkland, WA are about 2,013 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.