Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $46k less ($112,600 vs $158,700)
Rent averages $83/mo less ($872 vs $955)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails McAllen by $9,591/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
McAllen, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,591 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$46k less
$112,600 vs $158,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 85.2 on the COL index
McAllen
Median Income
$9,591
$56,326 vs $46,735/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
67% lower
150.0 vs 456.0 per 100k
McAllen
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 85.6 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $158,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $955 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 8 and McAllen wins 15. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $158,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and McAllen, TX are about 52 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.