Brownsville

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Brownsville, TX

Area Guide

A thriving border community steeped in heritage and history.

Affordable Beach Culture Bicycling Schools

Situated at the southernmost tip of Texas, Brownsville combines American and Mexican cultures in a subtropical setting. This historic border city offers affordable living options, with average rents ranging from $625 for studios to $1,203 for three-bedroom units, showing modest year-over-year increases between 1.8% and 2.9%. The rental market includes options across established neighborhoods, from downtown apartments to communities near the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The city features 37 parks connected by 32 miles of bike lanes and 1,200 acres of parkland. At Resaca de la Palma State Park, residents can explore semitropical brushland and observe native wildlife along the park's trails.

Downtown Brownsville features preserved historic architecture, local art galleries, and cultural venues. The Port of Brownsville drives the region's international trade, while SpaceX's facility has brought aerospace development to the area. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley enhances the city's educational opportunities. The annual Charro Days celebration brings together residents from Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico for a traditional festival. South Padre Island's beaches are just a short drive away, and history buffs can explore Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park to learn about the area's role in Texas history.

Explore the City

Strands of twinkle lights are draped over a street in Historic Brownsville.

A horse grazes in a field in East Brownsville.

Brownsville residents can enjoy fishing and kayaking at the Brownsville Convention Center.

Rent Trends

As of November 2025, the average apartment rent in Brownsville, TX is $622 for a studio, $886 for one bedroom, $1,051 for two bedrooms, and $1,208 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Brownsville has increased by 2.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$886/month
664 Sq Ft
House
$2,411/month
1,473 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,568/month
840 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,851/month
1,235 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Brownsville, TX

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Brownsville, TX is 14.5% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Brownsville is 26.5% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $622 - $1,208. You can expect to pay 14.4% less for groceries, 21.3% less for utilities, and 3.3% more for transportation.

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Transportation

51

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

45

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Benavides Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

882 Students

Pullam Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

841 Students

Hudson Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

666 Students

Rancho Verde Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

661 Students

Burns Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

604 Students

Stillman Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,095 Students

Faulk Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

976 Students

Manzano Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

905 Students

Vela Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

638 Students

Stell Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

781 Students

Brownsville Early College High School

Public

Grades 9-12

348 Students

Veterans Memorial High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,172 Students

Hanna High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,246 Students

Pace High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,788 Students

Porter High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,814 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
  • Children's Museum of Brownsville
  • Gladys Porter Zoo
  • Sabal Palm Audubon Center
  • Resaca de la Palma State Park

Airports

  • Brownsville/South Padre Island International
  • Valley International

Colleges

Top Apartments in Brownsville

Houses for Rent in Brownsville

Property Management Companies in Brownsville, TX

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.