Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
61% less violent crime than Springfield
Homes cost $34k less ($112,600 vs $146,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Households earn $3,285 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Brownsville by $3,285/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 89.3 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Income
$3,285
$46,735 vs $43,450/yr
Brownsville
Violent Crime
61% lower
456.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$34k less
$112,600 vs $146,400
Brownsville
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 89.3 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $146,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $878 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 14 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $146,400 median home), income ($46,735 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Springfield, MO are about 811 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.