Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 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
Miami
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $321k less ($112,600 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $622/mo less ($872 vs $1,494)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami by $8,123/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Miami, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $8,123 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Brownsville
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
4% lower
456.0 vs 473.3 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$321k less
$112,600 vs $433,900
Brownsville
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 87.8°F
Miami
Median Income
$8,123
$54,858 vs $46,735/yr
Miami
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $54,858 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 78.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 443,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Miami 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 Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $433,900 median home), income ($46,735 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Miami, FL are about 1,071 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.