Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 12 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($112,600 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $857/mo less ($872 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $41,731/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $41,731 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Brownsville
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$191k less
$112,600 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$41,731
$88,466 vs $46,735/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
48% lower
235.7 vs 456.0 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and San Tan Valley wins 12. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $304,000 median home), income ($46,735 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 981 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.