Rents are 5% below what Brownsville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,568 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Brownsville, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 24.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Brownsville, TX has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Brownsville, TX stood at $1,425 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,568, reflecting a 10.0% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $43,174 to $52,130 across the same window, up 20.7% versus 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 1.8% since 2021, moving from about 185,849 residents to roughly 189,177. Renters now make up 38.3% of households, compared with 40.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 24.5% of adults here, versus 20.5% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Brownsville, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Brownsville
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Brownsville on your salary?
At $1,568/mo, how Brownsville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Brownsville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Brownsville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Brownsville
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Brownsville is $1,568/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $707/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,003/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $800/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,337/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($52,130/yr), Brownsville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brownsville an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Brownsville?
Is rent going up or down in Brownsville?
Which Brownsville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Brownsville rent compare to other cities in Texas?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Brownsville?
What percentage of Brownsville residents rent vs. own?
How does Brownsville rent compare to the national average?
At $1,568/mo, rent takes ~36% of Brownsville's median household income ($52,130/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Brownsville.
No discussions yet.
