Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Moreno Valley, 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
Population
186,999
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($112,600 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $986/mo less ($872 vs $1,858)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $35,902/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,902 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Brownsville
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Brownsville
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$309k less
$112,600 vs $421,400
Brownsville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$35,902
$82,637 vs $46,735/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
40% lower
272.5 vs 456.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 79.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Moreno Valley 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 Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $421,400 median home), income ($46,735 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.