Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($112,600 vs $247,300)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($872 vs $1,038)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lawrence
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawrence by $13,099/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,099 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$135k less
$112,600 vs $247,300
Brownsville
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 88.6°F
Lawrence
Median Income
$13,099
$59,834 vs $46,735/yr
Lawrence
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 30.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 14 and Lawrence wins 9. 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 Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $247,300 median home), income ($46,735 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Lawrence, KS are about 905 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.