Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Brownsville leads 19 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999
Newark
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($112,600 vs $312,300)
Rent averages $401/mo less ($872 vs $1,273)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (6.3%)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
22% less violent crime than Newark
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Brownsville
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
22% lower
456.0 vs 581.2 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$200k less
$112,600 vs $312,300
Brownsville
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 10.7% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 19 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 19 and Newark wins 3. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $312,300 median home), income ($46,735 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Newark, NJ are about 1,676 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.