Duns, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk saw numbers rise with a regionwide increase of 1% last year compared with 2015.
There was a drop in footfall recorded in Galashiels, Jedburgh, Kelso and Melrose.
Eyemouth - which has only been included in the figures for the past five years - also saw its figures decline compared with last year.
Stuart Bell, executive member for economic development on Scottish Borders Council, said the results painted a "very mixed picture".
However, he said it was good to see a "substantial increase" in Hawick where the council was working with a range of partners on an action plan to boost the town's economic fortunes.
"The co-operation of local community groups and businesses is a key element of that work, and particularly so in areas around tourism and positive promotion of the town, which would hopefully drive even more people to visit," he said.
"The recently-established town centre resilience index uses a range of statistics, including footfall and retail vacancies, to help us target council resources for maximum impact in the towns in greatest need.
"These latest figures confirm that we must extend our efforts in Jedburgh and Eyemouth to help their economies."
Ron Smith, executive member for planning and environment, said the results, when read with other indicators showed "consolidation" which he said was positive in itself in "tough economic times".
"However, there are certainly indications that some of our town centres are struggling, particularly Jedburgh with a further fall in footfall and an increase in vacant shops, and we are already investigating steps to address such issues," he said.
"The council alone cannot revive our high streets and our partners, community groups, businesses themselves and the public have a role to play in ensuring that bustling Borders towns are not a thing of the past.
"On a personal note, I must welcome the improvement in the figures for Hawick, which brings with it an optimism that a corner may be turning."

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The 23-year-old Northampton player scored three tries in Wales' 61-20 win over Italy in the Six Nations in March.
And North is hoping he can repeat his form when Wales play their final World Cup warm-up game on Saturday.
"I can never score enough tries and if I can get one or two more that's brilliant," he said.
"It's my job to score tries and if I don't I get the finger pointed."
"This close to the World Cup you just want to concentrate on your job and that's my job. Touch wood it's going well and fingers crossed, it will carry on."
North earned his 50th Welsh cap in Dublin and is one of 10 players retained for the starting XV against Italy.
The Ireland match was his first for club or country since suffering concussion playing for Northampton Saints against Wasps on 27 March.
That incident was the fourth blow to the head the player had received in a five-month period.
He says the experience will not affect his approach to Saturday's game or the World Cup.
"After playing a full 80 minutes it was a monkey off my back, so to speak," he added.
"I knew everything I'd done properly, I'd ticked all the right boxes and I was fit and well and I know I can go out there and give it my all.
"And obviously I was delighted to be back playing on Saturday and get a good win out there as well."
North believes winning in Dublin was a huge boost for the Wales squad, but expects Italy to present a different challenge in Cardiff.
"Italy are coming off the back of a loss against Scotland, but from our point of view it's another match we've got to win," said North.
"The game plan was let's get it and play and hopefully that's what we'll do this weekend."
A town centre footfall study across eight main Borders towns has recorded its highest figures since 2012.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Wing George North says he is glad to have the "monkey off his back" as he returned in Wales' win over Ireland after five months out with concussion.