Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Pasadena, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $869k less ($112,600 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1228/mo less ($872 vs $2,100)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 8 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 Pasadena by $51,083/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,083 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Brownsville
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
5% lower
456.0 vs 480.4 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$869k less
$112,600 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$51,083
$97,818 vs $46,735/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 68.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $981,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.