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Brownsville, TX

City in Cameron County, Texas. ZIP codes: 78520, 78521, 78526, 78566, 78575, 78578.

Population

189,177

Land area

133.4sq mi

People per sq mi

1,418

ZIP codes

6

Brownsville and its ZIP codes

Full map

Brownsville at a glance

  • Brownsville is about 12 times as dense as Texas as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 18th among 1,795 cities and towns in Texas.
  • The median household income is $52,130, 34% below the Texas median of $78,476.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $139,900 (51% below Texas) and median rent is $923 a month.

Local data for Brownsville, TX

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Brownsville, TX, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$52,130

Poverty rate

23.7%

Median home value

$139,900

Median rent

$923/mo

Homeownership

61.7%

Bachelor's or higher

24.5%

Median age

31.2

Average commute

21.4 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (167,339), German Americans (2,089), Irish Americans (1,399).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Cameron County. PPP loans are for Brownsville.

Details

Unemployment rate

5.9%

Sep 2026, -1.6 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$47,042

154,673 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$39,990

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$2.9B

FY 2026, $6,785 per person

PPP loans

$62.1M

1,578 loans, 12,455 jobs reported

Cameron County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Brownsville, TX, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone74.9%
  • Carpooled13.4%
  • Public transit0.7%
  • Walked1.3%
  • Bicycle0.2%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
  • Worked from home8.4%

Average one-way commute: 21.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Brownsville, TX, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: cold wave

Storm events since 1996

851

Countywide, mostly drought

Flood insurance policies

12,201

9.7% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

92° / 51°F

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone18 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Brownsville, TX, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

40.8%

U.S. 33.3% +7.5 pts

Diabetes

18.7%

U.S. 12.1% +6.6 pts

Smoking

13.3%

U.S. 12.8% +0.5 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

36.5%

U.S. 11.1% +25.4 pts

ZIP codes in Brownsville

6 in or overlapping Brownsville. Population shown

·

Cities near Brownsville

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
OrasonCensus-designated place3.4 mi0.3
Del Mar HeightsCensus-designated place3.5 mi0.4
Los FresnosCity3.6 mi4.4
Chula VistaCensus-designated place3.8 mi0.2
Cameron ParkCensus-designated place4 mi0.5
OlmitoCensus-designated place4.2 mi0.6
Indian LakeTown4.6 mi0.2
Rancho ViejoTown5.2 mi2.1
LaurelesCensus-designated place6 mi4.8
San PedroCensus-designated place8 mi1.2
Reid Hope KingCensus-designated place8 mi0.3
Green Valley FarmsCensus-designated place8.5 mi3.9
BayviewTown8.5 mi3.9
LagoCensus-designated place9.8 mi0
Rice TractsCensus-designated place10 mi1.9
Encantada-Ranchito-El CalabozCensus-designated place10 mi2.6

Frequently asked questions

What county is Brownsville, TX in?
Brownsville is in Cameron County, Texas.
What ZIP codes are in Brownsville, TX?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Brownsville include 78520, 78521, 78526, 78566, 78575, 78578.
What is the population of Brownsville, TX?
About 189,177 people live in Brownsville, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Brownsville?
Nearby places include Orason (3.4 mi), Del Mar Heights (3.5 mi), Los Fresnos (3.6 mi), Chula Vista (3.8 mi), Cameron Park (4 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023

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