Rents are right about where Brownsville's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,703 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Brownsville is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2021.
Rent in Brownsville changed +5.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,130) is $1,303 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,003); a 3-bedroom is $1,337.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Brownsville, 78526 ($1,897/mo), costs 25% more than the cheapest, 78520 ($1,521/mo).
Harlingen, 25 miles away, rents for 32% less ($1,157/mo), about $6,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Brownsville. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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 $1,441 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,703, reflecting a 18.2% 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. 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.
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Can you afford rent in Brownsville on your salary?
At $1,703/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: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Brownsville is $1,703/mo as of October 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 39% of local median household income ($52,130/yr), Brownsville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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?
At $1,703/mo, rent takes ~39% of Brownsville's median household income ($52,130/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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