Brownsville-Harlingen and Mobile receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Brownsville-Harlingen
Mobile
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 5%
vs32 · Bottom 10%
Growth
65 · Top 26%
vs37 · Bottom 30%
Climate
76 · Top 15%
vs78 · Top 9%
Physical resilience
21 · Bottom 10%
vs26 · Bottom 15%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 47%
vs89 · Bottom 35%
Access
88 · Top 28%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 14%
vs36 · Bottom 27%
Measured values
| Metric | Brownsville-Harlingen | Mobile | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 426,120 | 412,590 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $52,601 | $58,880 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $24,089 | $33,306 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 478/sq mi | 336/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $190,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $912 | $1,052 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 66.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 26.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 16.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,631 | 1,180 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.2 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.7% | -15.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 23.3" | 67.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 27.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.7 | 38.5 | 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.
Mobile
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
Mobile
56
Your Score
51
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area · Mobile, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology