Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Brownsville leads 13 of 22 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
West Valley City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($112,600 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($872 vs $1,360)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than West Valley City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
More college-educated — 20.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $34,984/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $34,984 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
3% lower
456.0 vs 469.5 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$221k less
$112,600 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$34,984
$81,719 vs $46,735/yr
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 30.7 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 13 of 22 categories. Brownsville wins 13 and West Valley City 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $333,600 median home), income ($46,735 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and West Valley City, UT are about 1,314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.