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Living in
Brownsville.
Brownsville is an unincorporated community in Miami-Dade County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Brownsville
This unincorporated Miami-Dade community sits just six miles northwest of downtown Miami, making it a genuinely urban neighborhood rather than a standalone suburb—you're embedded in the metro area, not retreating from it. The real appeal here is affordability within South Florida's expensive landscape: median home values around $325,200 and median rent near $1,252 monthly give you actual breathing room compared to Miami proper, though you're still paying South Florida prices. The job market is solid with 2.7% unemployment, and you've got legitimate transit options through Metrorail, Tri-Rail, and Amtrak access right in the community, plus Metrobus service along major routes—critical if you're commuting to downtown or the airport.
Brownsville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.2%
Foreign-Born
38.4%
Broadband Internet
74.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics38.4% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in Brownsville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brownsville, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (39.9%), and 50.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.2%
of households
Married Couples
26.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.63
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Brownsville
In Brownsville, rent runs 25% below the FL average, and home values are 9% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
63.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
114.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,927
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
35.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $430,468 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts below FL average
Unemployment in Brownsville and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Miami-Dade County, which includes Brownsville, is 1.2 percentage points lower than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Brownsville: Miami-Dade County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Miami-Dade County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Brownsville is less than 1% of Miami-Dade County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Brownsville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area
Commute30.6 min avg
How Brownsville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brownsville, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 41% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Major hub26.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Miami-Dade County Police Department, which covers Brownsville, is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
335.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,809.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Miami-Dade County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 30 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Miami-Dade County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Miami-Dade County, which includes Brownsville, the most common type is flood, with 30 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | Flood | $229,000 |
| 2024 | 28 | Flood | $3.9M |
| 2023 | 40 | Flood | $170,000 |
| 2022 | 30 | Flash Flood | $19,000 |
| 2021 | 25 | Flood | $1.5M |
| 2020 | 37 | Flood | $67,000 |
| 2019 | 41 | Flood | $355,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Funnel Cloud | $21,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Miami-Dade County, county-wide
Brownsville is less than 1% of Miami-Dade County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Miami-Dade County, which includes Brownsville, is typically good — 206 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
206
per year
Moderate Days
158
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Miami-Dade County, county-wide
Brownsville is less than 1% of Miami-Dade County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 61°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brownsville has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and warm winters (avg low 61°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/68°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/72°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
77°/61°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
72.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
91
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
141
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76°F | 59°F | 2.03" |
| Feb | 78°F | 62°F | 2.29" |
| Mar | 80°F | 65°F | 2.81" |
| Apr | 83°F | 69°F | 3.81" |
| May | 86°F | 72°F | 6.08" |
| Jun | 88°F | 76°F | 11.45" |
| Jul | 90°F | 77°F | 7.92" |
| Aug | 90°F | 77°F | 9.98" |
| Sep | 89°F | 76°F | 11.53" |
| Oct | 86°F | 73°F | 8.23" |
| Nov | 81°F | 67°F | 4.00" |
| Dec | 78°F | 63°F | 2.80" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brownsville
Uninsured
17.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Brownsville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Hialeah Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Hialeah
Miami VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Miami
Jackson Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Miami
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brownsville
Brownsville's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 13.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
13.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Brownsville (within 15 miles)
Florida International University
9.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 39,508 students · in-state tuition $6,565 · 74% graduate · median earnings $65,722 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 12,913 students · in-state tuition $65,430 · 84% graduate · median earnings $84,093 (10 yrs after entry)
Florida National University-Main Campus
5.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 2,449 students · in-state tuition $17,368 · 35% graduate · median earnings $38,806 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,214 students · in-state tuition $35,780 · 49% graduate · median earnings $58,912 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,212 students · in-state tuition $35,600 · 44% graduate · median earnings $64,837 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,183 students · in-state tuition $20,174 · 35% graduate · median earnings $40,290 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Biscayne National Park, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brownsville
Brownsville has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Biscayne National Park (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Biscayne National Park
National Park
23 mi awayEverglades National Park
National Park
51 mi awayBig Cypress National Preserve
National Preserve
53 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brownsville
Model City Branch Library
2211 N.W. 54 Street, Miami
Cities Near Brownsville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brownsville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brownsville FAQ
Is Brownsville, Florida affordable?⌄
Brownsville's median rent is $1,252/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $40,795/year. Median home value is $325,200.
Is Brownsville, Florida safe?⌄
Brownsville is policed by the Miami-Dade County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 336 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1810 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brownsville, Florida?⌄
Miami-Dade County, which includes Brownsville, has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brownsville, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Brownsville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,252/month and median household income is $40,795/year. The median home value is $325,200. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brownsville, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Brownsville is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from