Population 208,598 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Brownsville
Household size in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.76 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.67 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.60 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.31 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.45 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Brownsville are large by national standards, averaging 3.31 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has dropped from 3.76 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.2 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.1 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.8 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.7 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 31.7, Brownsville is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 28.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 43 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.0% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Brownsville: 18.5% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Brownsville has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Texas cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Brownsville
Renters in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.9% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 38.0% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Brownsville than nationally: 38.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 61.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Brownsville as nationally: 8.2%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.6 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +8 | +6 |
Brownsville has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $606 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $702 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $800 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,017 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$411 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Brownsville costs $1,017 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $411 a month since 2006–10, up 68%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Brownsville
Bachelor's degrees in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.1% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Brownsville: 24.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.3% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 61.8% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 63.4% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 70.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About three in ten adults in Brownsville never finished high school, well above the national share: only 70.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 12.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 44 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Brownsville
| Period | Brownsville | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Brownsville: 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Brownsville compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | 3.31 | 31.7 | 18.5% | 38.0% | 8.2% | 1993 | $1,017 | 24.1% | 70.8% | 6.5% |
| Olmito | 3.33 | 30.0 | 16.1% | 17.4% | 4.7% | 2011 | $1,415 | 33.6% | 83.5% | 2.0% |
| Villa Nueva | 2.04 | 53.3 | 8.9% | 17.9% | 18.0% | 1993 | $854 | 12.0% | 68.7% | 0.2% |
| Rancho Viejo | 2.81 | 39.6 | 15.6% | 36.7% | 16.0% | 1985 | $1,589 | 54.9% | 92.4% | 3.2% |
| Villa Cavazos | 3.23 | 36.3 | 12.5% | 25.6% | 13.7% | 1992 | $1,349 | 19.3% | 65.3% | 4.7% |
| Los Fresnos | 3.53 | 34.1 | 18.3% | 24.8% | 11.0% | 2000 | $957 | 23.7% | 74.2% | 4.6% |
| Indian Lake | 3.01 | 35.0 | 13.8% | 38.1% | 20.0% | 1997 | $946 | 16.7% | 70.8% | 7.7% |
| Laureles | 3.59 | 33.1 | 24.6% | 49.2% | 15.9% | 2002 | $802 | 24.8% | 71.8% | 5.9% |
| La Paloma | 3.94 | 24.1 | 26.0% | 8.1% | 6.9% | 1990 | $822 | 5.5% | 50.0% | 15.5% |
| Landrum | 3.67 | 39.0 | 20.1% | 10.6% | 3.4% | 1998 | $757 | 6.6% | 53.5% | 2.7% |
| Los Indios | 3.73 | 31.9 | 15.3% | 21.1% | 9.0% | 1992 | $910 | 8.6% | 70.8% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pueblo, CO · Poughkeepsie, NY · Provo, UT · Raleigh, NC · Racine, WI · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Quincy, MA · Portland, OR · Portsmouth, VA · Queens, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Brownsville. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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