Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Brownsville leads 14 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $512k less ($112,600 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $981/mo less ($872 vs $1,853)
33% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
51% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $39,883/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,883 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 33% higher than Brownsville
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
33% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
51% lower
456.0 vs 923.1 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$512k less
$112,600 vs $624,800
Brownsville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$39,883
$86,618 vs $46,735/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 33% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 14 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 14 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $624,800 median home), income ($46,735 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Richmond, CA are about 1,670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.