Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$49,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
53% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than South Bend
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Brownsville
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
53% lower
456.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
Brownsville
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Median Income
$2,321
$49,056 vs $46,735/yr
South Bend
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $113,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $935 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $49,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 26.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $113,800 median home), income ($46,735 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and South Bend, IN are about 1,257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.