Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
47% less violent crime than Topeka
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 40°F
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 Topeka by $7,317/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $7,317 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 85.9 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
47% lower
456.0 vs 856.5 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$12k less
$112,600 vs $124,700
Brownsville
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Median Income
$7,317
$54,052 vs $46,735/yr
Topeka
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 85.9 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $124,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and Topeka 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 Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $124,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Topeka, KS are about 907 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.