Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($112,600 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($872 vs $1,568)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 50°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $40,809/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $40,809 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Brownsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$231k less
$112,600 vs $343,700
Brownsville
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$40,809
$87,544 vs $46,735/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
80% lower
92.3 vs 456.0 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 9 and Virginia Beach wins 14. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $343,700 median home), income ($46,735 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.