Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($112,600 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $490/mo less ($872 vs $1,362)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $27,305/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.2%)
Manchester, NH
Pros
Households earn $27,305 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Brownsville
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$192k less
$112,600 vs $304,700
Brownsville
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$27,305
$74,040 vs $46,735/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
26% lower
336.0 vs 456.0 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 32.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 88.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 11 and Manchester wins 12. 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 Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $304,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Manchester, NH are about 1,876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.