At a Glance
Median Income
$48,675
$21,338 per capita
Home Value
$122,400
Zillow: $199,327
Median Rent
$906/mo
29.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
458/100K
1,958/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.3%
70.8% high school+
Unemployment
6.1%
22.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.3%
13.7% smoking rate
How Brownsville Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Brownsville's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Brownsville a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.8 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Brownsville residents earn a median household income of $48,675 , which is 35% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $21,338. The unemployment rate stands at 6.1% (69% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 22.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 7,200 business establishments, including 815 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Brownsville is $122,400 , 57% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $199,327. Median rent is $906/month, with 29.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1993.
Safety & Crime
Brownsville reports 458 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 21% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,958/100K. The murder rate is 1.6/100K.
Education
22.3% of adults in Brownsville hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(34% below the national average).
70.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Brownsville has an average annual temperature of 76°F (25°C).
Winters average 63°F in January while summers reach 86°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 26.8 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 61.
Data Overview
People
Population188,023
Median Age30.9 yrs
Density1,410/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born27.2%
Veterans2.7%
Economy
C+
Median Income$48,675
Per Capita$21,338
Unemployment6.1%
Poverty22.5%
County GDP$17,387M
Avg Weekly Wage$857
Housing
A+
Home Value$122,400
Rent$906
Ownership59.9%
Zillow$199,327
Housing Units62,086
Rent Burden29.4%
Crime
F
Violent458/100K
Property1,958/100K
Murder1.6/100K
Assault363/100K
Burglary193/100K
Health
Obesity41.3%
Diabetes18.1%
Smoking13.7%
Heart Disease6.7%
Premature Death9,065/100K
Climate
Avg Temp76°F
Rain26.8 in/yr
AQI61 (Moderate)
Elevation10 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.3%
High School+70.8%
Graduate+5.8%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 53% / D 47%
Commute21 min
Broadband82.8%
Internet Speed133 Mbps
EV Stations10
Libraries9
Did You Know?
Brownsville was founded in 1849.
The median home in Brownsville was built in 1993.
The nearest airport is Brownsville/South Padre Island International (6 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.468 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
10.7% of the population has a disability.
27.2% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 133 Mbps.
There are 815 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 32 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.