Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 13 of 23 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
Sandy
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($112,600 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $768/mo less ($872 vs $1,640)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $61,430/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $61,430 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Brownsville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Brownsville
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$380k less
$112,600 vs $492,300
Sandy
Median Income
$61,430
$108,165 vs $46,735/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
46% lower
246.7 vs 456.0 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 13 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 10 and Sandy wins 13. 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 Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $492,300 median home), income ($46,735 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Sandy, UT are about 1,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.