Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Oakland, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
186,999
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $771k less ($112,600 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $977/mo less ($872 vs $1,849)
76% less violent crime than Oakland
33% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $47,654/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,654 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 33% higher than Brownsville
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
33% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
76% lower
456.0 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$771k less
$112,600 vs $883,800
Brownsville
Summer Heat
20.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$47,654
$94,389 vs $46,735/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 33% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $883,800 median home), income ($46,735 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Oakland, CA are about 1,658 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.