Median Age
33 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 17% of Residents
Under 20
30%
Over 65
14%
Brownsville, TX
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$918
Population
191,446
Renter Mix
39% Rent
A thriving border community steeped in heritage and history.
Affordable
•
Beach
•
Culture
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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$48,662
Average: $63,970
Education
29,767
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
79,994
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Brownsville has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
39%
Non-Renters
61%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
12%
Other Education
88%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Brownsville, TX is $614 for a studio, $917 for one bedroom, $1,055 for two bedrooms, and $1,191 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Brownsville has increased by 2.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$917/month
659 Sq Ft
House
$2,289/month
1,454 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,715/month
884 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,926/month
1,614 Sq Ft
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 $614 - $1,191. You can expect to pay 13.5% less for groceries, 20.9% less for utilities, and 3.4% more for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Brownsville, TX is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
778 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
882 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
841 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
666 Students
Rancho Verde Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
661 Students
IDEA Riverview College Preparatory
Public
Grades 6-12
787 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,095 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,095 Students
IDEA Brownsville College Preparatory
Public
Grades 6-12
762 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
976 Students
Brownsville Early College High School
Public
Grades 9-12
348 Students
IDEA Riverview College Preparatory
Public
Grades 6-12
787 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,172 Students
IDEA Brownsville College Preparatory
Public
Grades 6-12
762 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,788 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Nearby City Guides
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 February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.