Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($112,600 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $915/mo less ($872 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $97,019/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $97,019 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Brownsville
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$370k less
$112,600 vs $482,600
Brownsville
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$97,019
$143,754 vs $46,735/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
82% lower
83.7 vs 456.0 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Naperville wins 13. 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 Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Naperville, IL are about 1,210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.