Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
San Francisco, 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
San Francisco
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1236k less ($112,600 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1444/mo less ($872 vs $2,316)
32% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
24% less violent crime than San Francisco
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $89,954/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $89,954 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 92°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 32% higher than Brownsville
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
32% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
24% lower
456.0 vs 596.5 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$1236k less
$112,600 vs $1,348,700
Brownsville
Summer Heat
30.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$89,954
$136,689 vs $46,735/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 32% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and San Francisco, CA are about 1,698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.