Goldsboro receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Brownsville-Harlingen
Goldsboro
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 5%
vs36 · Bottom 13%
Growth
65 · Top 26%
vs60 · Top 33%
Climate
76 · Top 15%
vs74 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
21 · Bottom 10%
vs29 · Bottom 18%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 47%
vs97 · Top 42%
Access
88 · Top 28%
vs89 · Top 27%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 14%
vs42 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Brownsville-Harlingen | Goldsboro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 426,120 | 118,652 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $52,601 | $59,733 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $24,089 | $31,983 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 478/sq mi | 214/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $178,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $912 | $965 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 61.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -3.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 21.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 17.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,631 | 884 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.2 | 7.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.7% | 4.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 23.3" | 52.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.7 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Brownsville-Harlingen
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Goldsboro
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Brownsville-Harlingen
56
Your Score
52
Area Score
Goldsboro
61
Your Score
56
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area · Goldsboro, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology