Brownsville, TX—78521
Real Estate Data & Market Trends
Key Metrics at a Glance
Home Price Trends — Brownsville, TX
As of Oct '25, the median home price in Brownsville, TX is $167,000, with a year-over-year change of 1.1%. This indicates that home prices in Brownsville, TX are increasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is 1.5%, suggesting an increase housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $167,000 | 1.1% |
| Single Family | $168,000 | 1.2% |
| Condos | $111,000 | -0.9% |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | $146,000 | 2.1% |
2 Bed | $130,000 | -0.8% |
3 Bed | $185,000 | 1.1% |
4 Bed | $246,000 | 1.2% |
| 5 Bed | $313,000 | 1.6% |
% of Housing Stock
Rental Trends — Brownsville, TX
As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Brownsville, TX is $1,370, with a year-over-year rent change of -4.9%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Brownsville, TX is 1-bedrooms: $1,030, 2-bedrooms: $1,100, 3-bedrooms: $1,450, 4-bedrooms: $2,430. The most common rental property sizes in Brownsville, TX are 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom, accounting for 41.1% and 33.4% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,200 | $1,370 |
| Studio Rent | N/A | N/A |
| 1 Bed Rent | $900 | $1,030 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $1,500 | $1,450 |
| 4 Bed Rent | $2,300 | $2,430 |
% of Rental Stock
Property Listings — Brownsville, TX
As of Oct '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Brownsville, TX is 68. This is a increase of 9.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market longer than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 17.0%, representing a small inventory and little supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $231,000 | -3.0% |
Listing Count | 213 | 36.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 0.4% | 36.0% |
Days on Market | 68 | 9.0% |
Demographics — Brownsville, TX
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Brownsville, TX has a population of 87,900, which has decreased by -4.6% over the past 5 years. Brownsville, TX is a popular place for families, as children make up 28.3% of the population. The area has a poorly educated workforce, with 14.8% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are few residents working remotely, with 7.6% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 87,900 | -4.6% |
% Under 18 | 28.3% | -12.9% |
% Seniors | 14.2% | 21.4% |
% WFH | 7.6% | 130.3% |
% w/ College Degree | 14.8% | 21.3% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Brownsville, TX is a predominantly hispanic area, with 96.6% of the population identifying as hispanic. The hispanic population has grown by 0.4% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Brownsville, TX is white, making up 3.0% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 30.5% of the population in Brownsville, TX, and this percentage has increased by 1.0% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting more immigrants are calling the area home.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 3.0% | -16.7% |
% Black | 0.0% | -100.0% |
% Hispanic | 96.6% | 0.4% |
% Asian | 0.2% | 0.0% |
% Foreign Born | 30.5% | 1.0% |
Mortgage and Risk — Brownsville, TX
According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 458 mortgage originations in Brownsville, TX, of which 57.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 76.0%, with 49.0% above 90% LTV (very high). This implies large mortgage risk in Brownsville, TX. Investor activity is low, as 8.0% of loans were by investors. 9.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting few homeowners are tapping equity.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | 458 |
% Conventional Loans | 57.0% |
% Government Loans | 43.0% |
% Investor Loans | 8.0% |
% Second Loans | 2.0% |
% Cash Out Refinance | 9.0% |
Loan Activity
Rentals and Section 8 — Brownsville, TX
As of 2024, the percent of homes in Brownsville, TX under the Section 8 program is 18.7%. This is considered high, suggesting that the neighborhood is heavily composed of Section 8 homes. Section 8 opportunity is good when HUD pays more than market rent. In Brownsville, TX, none of the tracked home sizes currently have HUD payment amounts above market rent, suggesting limited Section 8 opportunity.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 2,214 |
Total Units Section 8 | 2,130 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 18.7% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 96.8% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | -$160 | $900 | $740 |
| 2 Bedroom | -$70 | $1,000 | $930 |
| 3 Bedroom | -$260 | $1,500 | $1,240 |
| 4 Bedroom | -$1,010 | $2,300 | $1,290 |
Affordability — Brownsville, TX
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 3.6 |
| Median Home Price | $167,000 |
| Median Household Income | $41,300 |