Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 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
Lubbock
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($112,600 vs $181,600)
44% less violent crime than Lubbock
Rent averages $221/mo less ($872 vs $1,093)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lubbock
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lubbock by $11,999/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.6%)
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Households earn $11,999 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
44% lower
456.0 vs 821.0 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$69k less
$112,600 vs $181,600
Lubbock
Median Income
$11,999
$58,734 vs $46,735/yr
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $181,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,093 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $58,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $181,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Lubbock, TX are about 587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.