Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 23 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
St. Louis
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than St. Louis
Homes cost $62k less ($112,600 vs $174,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 41°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Louis by $6,206/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
St. Louis, MO
Pros
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $6,206 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
67% lower
456.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$62k less
$112,600 vs $174,100
St. Louis
Median Income
$6,206
$52,941 vs $46,735/yr
St. Louis
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $938 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $52,941 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($46,735 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and St. Louis, MO are about 969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.