Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Brownsville leads 16 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($112,600 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $681/mo less ($872 vs $1,553)
29% less violent crime than Rialto
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $34,015/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,015 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
29% lower
456.0 vs 641.7 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$306k less
$112,600 vs $418,300
Brownsville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$34,015
$80,750 vs $46,735/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Rialto, 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 | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 69.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 31.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 16 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 16 and Rialto wins 6. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $418,300 median home), income ($46,735 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Rialto, CA are about 1,315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.