Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($112,600 vs $197,200)
37% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Las Cruces by $4,278/yr
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,278 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.3%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
37% lower
456.0 vs 720.0 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$85k less
$112,600 vs $197,200
Brownsville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Median Income
$4,278
$51,013 vs $46,735/yr
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $907 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $51,013 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $197,200 median home), income ($46,735 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Las Cruces, NM are about 713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.