Brownsville, TX
Census place 4810768 · pop 189,177
The southernmost city in Texas and site of the Battle of Palmito Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
36.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
37.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
61 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
61 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
23.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
40.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$52,130 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
86.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
98/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
24.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
61.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
13.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,604/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$139,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Brownsville: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Brownsville, TX a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Brownsville scores 33/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is uninsured adults. Texas overall ranks #38 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Brownsville, TX expensive to live in?
- Brownsville has a median home value of $139,900 and typical rent around $1,604/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Brownsville, TX?
- Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (36.5%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Brownsville, TX best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($139,900) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: The southernmost city in Texas and site of the Battle of Palmito Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.