ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 78521

Part of Brownsville, TX

Pop. 87,380·Cameron County·320th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,609/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.7%

Month-over-Month

+2.0%

vs US Median

-$323

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 78521 · $1,609

More affordable than 65% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$780

1 BR

$870

2 BR

$1,050

3 BR

$1,420

4 BR+

$1,480

Research median

$1,050/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 78521 changed +10.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($44,509) is $1,113 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,050); a 3-bedroom is $1,420.

Rank in Brownsville

2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Brownsville.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78521. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,308/yr

At $1,609/mo median

Location

CityBrownsville

StateTX

CountyCameron County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.7% YoY, +2.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 78521 (Brownsville, TX) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 16.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

87,380

Median income

$44,509

Median age

31.3

Renters

39.7%

Age distribution

27.1%

26.4%

23.2%

14.2%

Under 1827.1%

18–3426.4%

35–5423.2%

55–649.1%

65+14.2%

Gender

47.9%

52.1%

Male47.9%

Female52.1%

Race & ethnicity

32.4%

96.1%

White32.4%

Hispanic96.1%

Education (25+)

36.1%

26.1%

21%

16.7%

No HS diploma36.1%

HS diploma26.1%

Some college21%

Bachelor's+16.7%

Housing tenure

60.3%

39.7%

Owner60.3%

Renter39.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 78521 in Brownsville, TX has changed in 5 years

Income

$35,318 → $44,509

up 26.0%

Population

88,791 → 87,380

down 1.6%

Renter share

40.8% → 39.7%

-1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

13.5% → 16.7%

+3.2 pts

Median age

30.5 → 31.3

+0.8 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 78521 in Brownsville, TX now reports about $44,509, up from $35,318 in 2021. The population has contracted by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 88,791 residents to roughly 87,380. College-educated residents now make up 16.7% of adults here, versus 13.5% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 78521

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 78521

About renting in ZIP 78521

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 78521 covers Brownsville, TX. The median rent here is $1,609/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $870/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,050/mo.

At 43% of local median household income ($44,509/yr), ZIP 78521 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 78521?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,609/mo in ZIP 78521. The local median household income is $44,509/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 78521?

Rent in ZIP 78521 has risen 10.7% over the past year.

How does ZIP 78521 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 78521 is in the middle among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #320 of 693 at $1,609/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 78521 changed +10.7%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.