Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($159,600 vs $290,800)
Rent averages $506/mo less ($920 vs $1,426)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New Braunfels
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 62°F
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $31,688/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.8%)
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Households earn $31,688 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Edinburg
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$131k less
$159,600 vs $290,800
Edinburg
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 93.4°F
New Braunfels
Median Income
$31,688
$85,827 vs $54,139/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
42% lower
156.4 vs 269.6 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 38.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 35.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 10 and New Braunfels wins 13. 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 Edinburg to New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $290,800 median home), income ($54,139 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and New Braunfels, TX are about 233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.