Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Brownsville leads 15 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Peoria
Homes cost $34k less ($112,600 vs $146,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $11,333/yr
Peoria, IL
Pros
Households earn $11,333 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.3%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 88.6 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
66% lower
456.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$34k less
$112,600 vs $146,700
Brownsville
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.0% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Median Income
$11,333
$58,068 vs $46,735/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 88.6 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $146,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $917 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $58,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 15 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 15 and Peoria wins 8. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $146,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Peoria, IL are about 1,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.