Brownsville TX vs Jonesboro AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Brownsville, TX

Texas · Population: 188,023

Median HH Income$48,675
Median Home Price$196,920
Unemployment6.1%
Bachelor's+22.3%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Brownsville

188,023

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Brownsville

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Brownsville

30.9

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Brownsville

27.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Brownsville

45.5%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Brownsville

0.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Brownsville

0.8%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Brownsville

94.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Brownsville

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	188,023	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	30.9	N/A	-
Foreign Born	27.2%	N/A	-
White	45.5%	N/A	-
Black	0.3%	N/A	-
Asian	0.8%	N/A	-
Hispanic	94.2%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Brownsville

$48,675

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Brownsville

$21,338

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Brownsville

$63,758

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Brownsville

6.1%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Brownsville

24.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Brownsville

22.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$48,675	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$21,338	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$63,758	$53,714	Brownsville +
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	24.9%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	22.3%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Brownsville

$196,920

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

$225,577

Homeownership Rate

Brownsville

59.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$196,920	$225,577	Brownsville +
Homeownership Rate	59.9%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Brownsville

442

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Brownsville

2339

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	442	660	Brownsville +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2339	2507	Brownsville +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Brownsville

40.8%

Jonesboro

39.2%

Jonesboro +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Brownsville

18.7%

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Brownsville

16.7%

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Brownsville

36.5%

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Brownsville

15.6%

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Brownsville

13.3%

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	40.8%	39.2%	Jonesboro +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	18.7%	11.4%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.7%	20.5%	Brownsville +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	36.5%	11.6%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.6%	15.1%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	13.3%	15.7%	Brownsville +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Brownsville

74.5°F

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Brownsville

27.4 in

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	74.5°F	59.2°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	27.4 in	48.2 in	Brownsville +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Brownsville

9.2 µg/m³

Brownsville +

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Brownsville

55.0%

Jonesboro

55.0%

Tie

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.2 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Brownsville +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	55.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Brownsville

22.2 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Brownsville, TX	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	22.2 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Brownsville offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $196,920. On public safety, Brownsville is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Brownsville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Jonesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.2%.

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About Brownsville & Jonesboro

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