In Brownsville, a typical home is worth $139,900 and typical rent is $923 a month. Home values, rent and income are very close to those of all of Cameron County.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $148,973 to $194,705.
Typical rent
$1,703a month
▲ 5.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2021 to September 2026: from $1,356 to $1,703.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Brownsville is in Cameron County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cameron County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Cameron Park, the typical home value is $74,800: 47% less than in Brownsville ($139,900).
2
Nearby, in Port Isabel, the typical rent is $748: 19% less than in Brownsville ($923).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Brownsville
What homes there are in Brownsville, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Brownsville
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Brownsville and its comparisons
Measure
Brownsville
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Detached house
68%
65%
64%
61%
Attached house
3%
3%
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
9%
8%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
15%
14%
21%
19%
Mobile home
5%
11%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
In Brownsville, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Cameron County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Brownsville
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Year built: Brownsville and its comparisons
Measure
Brownsville
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
9%
10%
12%
26%
1960–1979
21%
20%
21%
24%
1980–1999
29%
32%
28%
25%
2000–2009
23%
21%
18%
14%
2010 or later
19%
16%
21%
11%
By age, homes in Brownsville look like those in Cameron County: the typical year built is 1995.
There is more room for a big family here: 64% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, against 61% in Cameron County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K34%
$100K–$200K37%
$200K–$300K18%
$300K–$500K9%
$500K–$750K1%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1M1%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Brownsville and its comparisons
Measure
Brownsville
Under $100K
34%
$100K–$200K
37%
$200K–$300K
18%
$300K–$500K
9%
$500K–$750K
1%
$750K–$1M
1%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
About 98% of owner-occupied homes in Brownsville are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Cameron County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50016%
$500–$99942%
$1,000–$1,49931%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,042
$1,500–$1,9998%
$2,000–$2,4992%
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Brownsville and its comparisons
Measure
Brownsville
Under $500
16%
$500–$999
42%
$1,000–$1,499
31%
$1,500–$1,999
8%
$2,000–$2,499
2%
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Cameron County is $1,042: about 61% of rents in Brownsville are below it.
With a mortgage
$1,497 a month
Cameron County: $1,449 a month
Without a mortgage
$502 a month
Cameron County: $481 a month
Owners with a mortgage
42%
Cameron County: 39%
Owning costs about the same in Brownsville as in Cameron County: with a mortgage, $1,497 a month; without one, $502.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Brownsville+55%
Cameron County+59%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Brownsville+25%
Cameron County+24%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Brownsville+35%
Cameron County+36%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Brownsville and its comparisons
Measure
Brownsville
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+55%
+59%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
+25%
+24%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+35%
+36%
+27%
+29%
The typical home value in Brownsville rose 55% since 2015–2019, less than in Cameron County (59%).
The typical rent in Brownsville rose 25% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Cameron County (24%).
The typical household income in Brownsville rose 35% over that time; home values changed +55% and rent +25%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Brownsville and its comparisons
Measure
Brownsville
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
5.1%
5.5%
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
1.2%
1.4%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
11.0%
9.9%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
3.13
3.05
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
75%
76%
71%
69%
Carpool
13%
12%
10%
9%
Public transit
1%
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
1%
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
8%
9%
14%
15%
Other means
1%
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Brownsville, the rental vacancy rate is 5.1%, about the same as in Cameron County.
In Brownsville, 11.0% of households live with more than one person per room, against 9.9% in Cameron County.
A household in Brownsville has 3.13 people on average, about the same as in Cameron County (3.05).
In Brownsville, 75% of workers drive alone to work; in Cameron County, 76%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Brownsville?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Brownsville, worth $139,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Brownsville, which is $52,130 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $53,425 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cameron County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Brownsville. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,897 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,247
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$137,366
Total interest
$197,637
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,363 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,216 a month
Tight
$1,216 to $1,564 a month
Your payment · 29%
Hard
more than $1,564 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Brownsville ($52,130 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$931
Property tax
$196
Home insurance
$58
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$62
You need at least $4,897 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,247; principal and interest $931.
The city and its county
Brownsville and Cameron County
Brownsville is in Cameron County, Texas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Brownsville
Map of Cameron County, Texas, with Brownsville marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Brownsville
Cameron County
Other cities with a page
Brownsville's own numbers
Typical home value
$139,900
Typical monthly rent
$923
Typical yearly household income
$52,130
Households that own their home
62%
Effective property tax rate
1.68%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Cameron County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,042
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+55%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
9.5%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cameron County.
A typical home in Brownsville is worth $139,900: 2% above the county and 51% below Texas. With the typical household income in Brownsville ($52,130 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Brownsville2.7 years
Cameron2.6 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Cameron County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cameron County rose 81% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cameron County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Cameron County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +0.6% +0.6% 2016
2017: +3.6% +3.6% 2017
2018: +2.2% +2.2% 2018
2019: +4.8% +4.8% 2019
2020: +4.7% +4.7% 2020
2021: +12.0% +12.0% 2021
2022: +18.5% +18.5% 2022
2023: +11.8% +11.8% 2023
2024: +4.4% +4.4% 2024
2025: +0.1% +0.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Cameron County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.1%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+55%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+81%
+88%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Brownsville next to Cameron County, Texas and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Brownsville$139,900
Cameron$136,500
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Brownsville$923
Cameron$912
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Brownsville$52,130
Cameron$52,601
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Brownsville next to Cameron County and Texas
Measure
Brownsville
Cameron County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$139,900 ▲2% above the county
$136,500
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$923
$912
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$52,130
$52,601
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
62% ▼4 points below the county
65%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,349 ▲15% above the county
$2,042
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.68% ▲0.18 points above the county
1.5%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
48% ▼2 points below the county
50%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cameron County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Brownsville
For a typical $139,900 home in Brownsville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Brownsville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,247a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,897
Cash to close
$9,094
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $62
Conventional, 5% down$1,221a month
Down payment
$6,995
Cash to close
$11,192
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $66
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,012a month
Down payment
$27,980
Cash to close
$32,177
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,142a month
Down payment
$20,985
Cash to close
$25,182
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Brownsville
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,247
$4,897
$137,366
7.18%
FHA MIP · $62
$9,094
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,221
$6,995
$132,905
7.18%
PMI · $66
$11,192
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,012
$27,980
$111,920
7.18%
None
$32,177
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,142
$20,985
$118,915
8.18%
None
$25,182
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Brownsville is $923 a month: about the same as the county. In Brownsville, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cameron County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,042 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.04 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Cameron County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$827
$15.90
$33,080
1 bedroom
$884
$17.00
$35,360
2 bedrooms
$1,042
$20.04
$41,680
3 bedrooms
$1,393
$26.79
$55,720
4 bedrooms
$1,496
$28.77
$59,840
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Brownsville
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Brownsville has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,050 in 78520 to $1,230 in 78526.
3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Cameron County ($1,042).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of Brownsville, beside the one for Cameron County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,050 in 78520 to $1,230 in 78526. 3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Cameron County ($1,042).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,042
Lowest: $1,050 (78520)Highest: $1,230 (78526)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Brownsville, fiscal year 2027.
78520
$830
$890
$1,050
$1,400
$1,510
78521
$830
$890
$1,050
$1,400
$1,510
78526
$980
$1,040
$1,230
$1,640
$1,770
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
78520 $1,050$1,400
78521 $1,050$1,400
78526 $1,230$1,640
3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Brownsville when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 36 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Brownsville. These are the largest.
Valley Resaca Palms Apts2800 Fm 802, Brownsville 78526250 low-income homes · 1 bd: 200 · 2 bd: 50 · In service since 1997
Villa del Sol700 E Saint Charles St, Brownsville 78520200 homes, 189 low-income · Studio: 120 · 1 bd: 71 · 2 bd: 8 · In service since 2006 · For older adults
Paseo Plaza Apts2701 Paredes Line Rd, Brownsville 78526184 low-income homes · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 72 · 4 bd: 72 · In service since 1997
Champion Homes at Canyon Creek1701 Canyon Cir, Brownsville 78521151 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 49 · 3 bd: 35 · In service since 2012
Tropical Gardens at Boca Chica250 Ash St, Brownsville 78521158 homes, 150 low-income · 1 bd: 35 · 2 bd: 68 · 3 bd: 55 · In service since 2006 · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville · Average payment: $370 a month · Average wait: 21 months(956) 541-8315
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Cameron County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Brownsville or Cameron County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Brownsville the same as in the rest of the state.
Texas state program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with down payment assistance.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state program with down payment assistance for any buyer, not only first-time buyers.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Brownsville or Cameron County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Brownsville and all of Cameron County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Brownsville?
The typical home value in Brownsville is $139,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cameron County it is $136,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Brownsville?
Typical rent in Brownsville is $923 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cameron County is $1,042.
What is the FHA loan limit in Brownsville?
Brownsville uses the FHA limit for all of Cameron County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Brownsville?
The typical homeowner in Brownsville pays $2,349 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.68% of the home’s value; in Cameron County, the rate is 1.5%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Brownsville?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Cameron County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
