A+
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Brownwood Texas National
Cost of living8592100
Goods & Services9396100
Groceries9596100
Health care9394100
Housing6183100
Transportation9492100
Utilities103104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Brownwood, TX

Understanding the cost of living in Brownwood can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Brownwood cost of living index is 85, which is 15% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Is Brownwood Affordable?

Wondering if Brownwood is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Brownwood, for example, the median home price is 48.8% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 15.3% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Brownwood boasting a median household income of $42,944, which is 22.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brownwood?

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Brownwood, the transportation index stands at 5.9% lower than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Brownwood, the utilities index registers 3.3% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Brownwood cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Brownwood Area
Search Homes for Sale in Brownwood, TX

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Brownwood is 8% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Brownwood is 15% lower than the national average
  • Brownwood housing is 39% lower than the national average
  • Texas general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Texas state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Brownwood

See all the best places to live around Brownwood

Compare Brownwood, TX Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Brownwood?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Brownwood?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Brownwood poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$58,488$4,874$1,365$1,755
      Renters$28,568$2,381$667$857
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Brownwood, TX, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Brownwood, the median monthly income is $58,488 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,365 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $28,568, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $667 on monthly rental expenses.

      Texas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Texas 6.25% 8.25%

      Texas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Texas 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Brownwood National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.33$24.2625.0%
      Beauty Salon $31.44$45.5631.0%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.19$1.287.1%
      Movie $10.26$12.1315.5%
      Bowling $15.22$18.0015.4%

      Groceries

      Item Brownwood National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.46$5.846.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.51$4.673.4%
      Potatoes $4.88$4.931.2%
      Pizza $12.69$12.095.0%
      Beer $10.46$10.410.5%

      Health Care

      Item Brownwood National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $141.52$125.6812.6%
      Doctor $117.53$135.7813.4%
      Dentist $115.28$113.291.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.09$10.655.3%
      Lipitor $377.45$468.6019.5%

      Housing

      Item Brownwood National avg. Difference
      Home Price $94,500.00$184,700.0048.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,061.92$2,346.6912.1%
      Apartment Rent $804.00$949.0015.3%

      Transportation

      Item Brownwood National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.13$3.469.6%
      Tire Balancing $61.81$59.923.1%

      Utilities

      Item Brownwood National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.23$193.990.4%
      Phone $209.24$192.258.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Blanket, TX3538020.4%
      Bangs, TX1,5188020.2%
      Lake Brownwood, TX1,4618119.1%
      Early, TX3,1138812.5%
      Thunderbird Bay, TX613919.1%
      Brownwood, TX18,5548515.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lake Ronkonkoma, NY18,55513736.9%
      Winthrop Town, MA18,55815150.9%
      East Massapequa, NY18,56415151.1%
      Rancho Mirage, CA18,53715150.8%
      Central Saanich, BC18,572n/a 
      Brownwood, TX18,5548515.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.