Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 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
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($112,600 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 36°F
Rent averages $126/mo less ($872 vs $998)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lincoln
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $21,111/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Households earn $21,111 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$118k less
$112,600 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Median Income
$21,111
$67,846 vs $46,735/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
24% lower
347.9 vs 456.0 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 92.0 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $998 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Lincoln wins 13. 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 Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $230,400 median home), income ($46,735 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Lincoln, NE are about 1,024 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.