Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $400k less ($112,600 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $954/mo less ($872 vs $1,826)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $31,335/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,335 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Brownsville
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
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
$400k less
$112,600 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$31,335
$78,070 vs $46,735/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
40% lower
272.2 vs 456.0 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Ontario, 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 | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 76.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and Ontario wins 9. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($46,735 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Ontario, CA are about 1,324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.