Brownsville, FL vs Fort Pierce, FL

Fort Pierce is moderately more affordable than Brownsville, with a 8.5% lower cost of living index. Brownsville scores 98 compared to 90 for Fort Pierce, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Brownsville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Brownsville is $1,157/month compared to $1,194/month in Fort Pierce — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Brownsville has cheaper rent, Fort Pierce actually has lower median home values ($220,500 vs $285,100).

Median household income in Brownsville is $38,460 compared to $46,745 in Fort Pierce (-17.7%). Fort Pierce offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Brownsville spend roughly 36.1% of their income on rent, more than the 30.7% in Fort Pierce. The Fort Pierce ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.