Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Brownsville leads 15 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
40% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Households earn $3,151 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Syracuse, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Brownsville
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Income
$3,151
$46,735 vs $43,584/yr
Brownsville
Violent Crime
40% lower
456.0 vs 765.3 per 100k
Brownsville
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Brownsville
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 81.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $117,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $932 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 15 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 15 and Syracuse wins 8. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $117,900 median home), income ($46,735 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Syracuse, NY are about 1,681 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.