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Living in
Brownsville.
About
Life in Brownsville
Living in Brownsville means embracing a city shaped by its position at the southernmost tip of Texas—literally at the crossroads of Mexico and the Gulf Coast. The economy here runs on government jobs, the Port of Brownsville, manufacturing, and a growing aerospace sector, so employment is relatively stable even if wages tend to be modest; the median household income hovers around $52,130, and you'll find a median home price of just $139,900 with rent averaging $923 a month, making it genuinely affordable compared to most Texas cities. The community is overwhelmingly Latino—93.9% of the population—which shapes everything from the food scene to neighborhood culture; this isn't a place where you're visiting Mexican food, it's simply the fabric of daily life, and if that resonates with you, the authenticity is a real draw for long-term residents.
Brownsville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.7%
Foreign-Born
27.5%
Broadband Internet
86.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Brownsville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brownsville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (93.9%), and 82.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.4%
of residents
65 and Older
13.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.3%
of households
Married Couples
47.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.13
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 34% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Brownsville
In Brownsville, rent runs 34% below the TX average, and home values are 51% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,349
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $194,705 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.6 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Brownsville
Unemployment in Brownsville is 3.6 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Brownsville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.4 min avg
How Brownsville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brownsville, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport (BRO)
Regional airport · few flights141k 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.
Safetyviolent crime 23% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brownsville runs 23% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
404.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,528
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brownsville Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cameron County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cameron County, which includes Brownsville, the most common type is drought, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105.0M |
| 2024 | 23 | Heat | $3.1M |
| 2023 | 47 | Heat | $2.6M |
| 2022 | 12 | Frost/Freeze | $11,000 |
| 2021 | 26 | Drought | $138,380 |
| 2020 | 23 | Drought | $122.2M |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32.0M |
| 2018 | 10 | Frost/Freeze | $61.2M |
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
Cameron County, county-wide
Air Quality57 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cameron County, which includes Brownsville, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
57
Good Days
109
per year
Moderate Days
248
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cameron County, county-wide
Climate95°F summers, 55°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brownsville has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and warm winters (avg low 55°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
86°/68°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/78°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
87°/68°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
74°/55°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
28.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
135
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
83
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F | 53°F | 1.08" |
| Feb | 76°F | 57°F | 1.03" |
| Mar | 81°F | 62°F | 1.45" |
| Apr | 86°F | 68°F | 1.47" |
| May | 90°F | 74°F | 2.22" |
| Jun | 94°F | 77°F | 2.86" |
| Jul | 95°F | 78°F | 1.98" |
| Aug | 96°F | 78°F | 2.16" |
| Sep | 92°F | 75°F | 5.73" |
| Oct | 87°F | 69°F | 3.83" |
| Nov | 80°F | 61°F | 1.76" |
| Dec | 74°F | 55°F | 1.21" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brownsville
Brownsville has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
26.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Valley Baptist Medical Center- Brownsville
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Valley Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brownsville
Brownsville's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
78
within city limits
Private Schools
9
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Brownsville
Public · 2-year · 3,372 students · in-state tuition $3,298 · 34% graduate · median earnings $45,936 (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: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brownsville
Brownsville has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
3 mi awayPadre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
74 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brownsville
Brownsville Public Library
2600 Central Blvd, Brownsville
Southmost Branch Library
4320 Southmost Blvd, Brownsville
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, Texas affordable?⌄
Brownsville's median rent is $923/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $52,130/year. Median home value is $139,900.
Is Brownsville, Texas safe?⌄
Brownsville's violent crime rate was 405 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1528 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brownsville, Texas?⌄
Brownsville has an unemployment rate of 7.8%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brownsville, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Brownsville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $923/month and median household income is $52,130/year. The median home value is $139,900. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brownsville, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Brownsville is 21 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