Providence vs Brownsville: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Providence, RI and Brownsville, TX, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricProvidence, RIBrownsville, TX
Population189,715186,999
Median household income$61,365$46,735
Median home value$293,000$112,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,214$872

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Providence, RI and Brownsville, TX comes down to what you value most. Brownsville has the lower median home value, and Brownsville has the lower median rent.

Providence has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Providence or Brownsville?
By median home value, Brownsville is the cheaper of the two ($112,600 vs $293,000). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Providence or Brownsville?
Median household income is $61,365 in Providence versus $46,735 in Brownsville, per the US Census Bureau.

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