Living in Brownsville, TX
Brownsville is the 136th-largest city in the US, home to about 193,000 people in 2025. It has grown 3.6% since 2020. Prices across the metro area run well below the national average (86.0 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 192,957+3.6% since 2020
- Median home value
- $139,9002.7 years of median income
- Median rent
- $923/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $52,130median, per year
- Price level
- 86.0US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 73° / 95°lows 53° / 78°
- Average commute
- 21 min8% work from home
- State income tax
- Noneon wages
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County: Cameron County
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Elevation: about 33 ft
Metro area: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Cost of living in Brownsville
The median home in Brownsville is worth $139,900 and the median household earns $52,130 a year, so a typical home costs about 2.7 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $923 a month, about 21% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area at 86.0, with housing at 57.7 and goods at 93.8 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $64,500 here. Texas has no state income tax on wages. The average combined state and local sales tax in Texas is 8.2%.
What would my salary be worth in Brownsville?
Brownsville weather
Average highs run from 73°F in January to 95°F in July, and January nights average 53°F. It gets 27 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 140 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are November to April.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Brownsville
People and work
The median resident is 31.2 years old, and 24% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 62% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 21 minutes; 8% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 31.243rd youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 25%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 62%of households
- People per sq mile
- 1,447133.4 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%1% walk, 0.2% bike
- Unemployment
- 6.2%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 23.7%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1995median year
Who moves to Brownsville, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Houston (Harris County), San Antonio (Bexar County) and Austin (Travis County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to San Antonio (Bexar County), Houston (Harris County) and Austin (Travis County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for Cameron County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: hurricane, cold wave, heat wave, winter weather.
Home prices
+4.4% in a year
Up 48% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
30% good days
8 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Brownsville
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Texas Southmost College 2 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Brownsville
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport BRO | 5 mi | 188,157 |
| Valley International Airport HRL | 23 mi | 603,561 |
| McAllen-Miller International Airport MFE | 49 mi | 625,670 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Brownsville
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Southmost College | 2 mi | 3,372 | $2,957 | 37% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Brownsville
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before January 6, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around December 30 and the first frost comes around January 2.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Brownsville, TX, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Brownsville.
Wildfire smoke in Brownsville
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Brownsville on about 187 days a year, including about 35 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Brownsville
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 59,839 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Brownsville
Downtown Brownsville is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville Independent School District | Pre-K to 12 | 36,140 | 52 | 14.9 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District (10,357 students), San Benito Consolidated Independent School District (9,073 students), Point Isabel Independent School District (1,786 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Brownsville's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Brownsville's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Lake Charles, LA41% matchCompare
- Yuma, AZ38% matchCompare
- Beaumont, TX38% matchCompare
- Bryan, TX36% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Pros and cons of living in Brownsville
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 2.7 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 14% below the US average (BEA).
- Data Texas has no state income tax on wages.
- Data Winters are warm, with January highs around 73°F.
Cons
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 140 days a year reach 90°F.
- Data Poverty is high: 23.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
Brownsville report card from locals
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Cities near Brownsville
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharr, TX | 46 mi | 80,830 | $121,900 | 85.9 | Compare |
| McAllen, TX | 49 mi | 150,640 | $190,400 | 85.9 | Compare |
| Edinburg, TX | 54 mi | 110,700 | $189,600 | 85.9 | Compare |
| Mission, TX | 57 mi | 88,992 | $175,700 | 85.9 | Compare |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 127 mi | 317,247 | $210,400 | 92.7 | Compare |
| Laredo, TX | 166 mi | 269,515 | $193,500 | 87.0 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Brownsville with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Brownsville a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, no state income tax on wages, 6 comfortable months a year, short commutes; the trade-offs are 140 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Compare Brownsville side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Brownsville?
The Census Bureau estimates Brownsville had 192,957 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 186,331 in April 2020 (+3.6%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Brownsville?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $64,500 in the Brownsville area. The median household here earns $52,130.
When is the best time to visit Brownsville?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, November to April are the most comfortable months. July averages 95°F and January 73°F for daytime highs.
What county is Brownsville in?
Brownsville is in Cameron County, Texas. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Brownsville in?
Brownsville is on Central Time (UTC-6, or UTC-5 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Brownsville?
About 33 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax wage income.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Brownsville. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Brownsville, TX station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.