Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories
Brownsville
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1328k less ($112,600 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1969/mo less ($872 vs $2,841)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $118,617/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $118,617 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Brownsville
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Brownsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$1328k less
$112,600 vs $1,440,200
Brownsville
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$118,617
$165,352 vs $46,735/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
60% lower
182.0 vs 456.0 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Santa Clara wins 10. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($46,735 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,635 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.