Hammond 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
Hammond
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 5%
vs35 · Bottom 13%
Growth
65 · Top 26%
vs75 · Top 11%
Climate
76 · Top 15%
vs77 · Top 11%
Physical resilience
21 · Bottom 10%
vs21 · Bottom 10%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 47%
vs84 · Bottom 25%
Access
88 · Top 28%
vs76 · Top 50%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 14%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Brownsville-Harlingen | Hammond | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 426,120 | 136,738 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $52,601 | $56,760 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $24,089 | $31,792 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 478/sq mi | 173/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $212,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $912 | $1,003 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 70.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% | 5.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 20.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 19.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,631 | 1,131 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.2 | 8.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.7% | 7.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 23.3" | 64.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 44 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 32.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.7 | 35.9 | 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.
Hammond
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, inland flooding.
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
Hammond
57
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area · Hammond, LA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology