Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Brownsville leads 12 of 23 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
Reno
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($112,600 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($872 vs $1,360)
14% less violent crime than Reno
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 46°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $26,338/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $26,338 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
14% lower
456.0 vs 529.6 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$350k less
$112,600 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$26,338
$73,073 vs $46,735/yr
Reno
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Reno wins 11. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $462,100 median home), income ($46,735 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Reno, NV are about 1,596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.