Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories
Brownsville
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
186,999
Wichita
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($112,600 vs $166,400)
15% less violent crime than Wichita
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Wichita
Cons
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita by $13,977/yr
Wichita, KS
Pros
Households earn $13,977 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Brownsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Violent Crime
15% lower
456.0 vs 538.6 per 100k
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$54k less
$112,600 vs $166,400
Wichita
Median Income
$13,977
$60,712 vs $46,735/yr
Wichita
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $915 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ 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 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brownsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Brownsville wins 12 and Wichita wins 11. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $166,400 median home), income ($46,735 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Wichita, KS are about 808 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.