Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Brownsville leads 12 of 22 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
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $710k less ($112,600 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $919/mo less ($872 vs $1,791)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
37% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $29,509/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,509 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Brownsville
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
37% lower
456.0 vs 728.5 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$710k less
$112,600 vs $822,600
Brownsville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$29,509
$76,244 vs $46,735/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Los Angeles wins 10. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $822,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Los Angeles, CA are about 1,368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.