CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Brownsville Metro

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · 1 counties · 421,017 residents · 891.719 sq mi
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The short version

Brownsville has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,200. Population has grown 26% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $89,700. At a median age of 34.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 34.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
421,017
+26%since 2000
from 335,227 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
472 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 376 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
34.0
+17%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
244K293K343K393K443K1990201020202024Brownsville
2024426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.5%(27,383)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(32,155)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.7%(36,623)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 199%(37,945)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.1%(29,782)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.2%(51,251)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412%(50,647)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(49,872)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6410.6%(44,530)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.6%(36,314)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.3%(17,902)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.6%(6,613)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,200
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,155 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,247
+66%since 2000
from $10,960 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.1%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
26.7%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 33.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade5.8%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$89,700
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$746
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $413 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
64.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 67.7% in 2000
35.7% rent
Afford Score
2.2
−8%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brownsville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic14.5%(48,679)
Black0.3%(909)
Hispanic / Latino84.3%(282,736)
Asian0.5%(1,522)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic8.8%(37,107)
Black0.3%(1,405)
Hispanic / Latino89.5%(376,680)
Asian0.6%(2,596)
Other0.4%(1,554)
Segregation Score
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican86.2%(363,999)
Central American0.6%(2,469)
Puerto Rican0.3%(1,339)
Guatemalan0.3%(1,100)
Salvadoran0.2%(769)
Spaniard0.2%(685)
Honduran0.1%(463)
Cuban0.1%(411)
Venezuelan0%(203)
Colombian0%(130)
Dominican0%(116)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(1,000)
Vietnamese0.2%(751)
Asian Indian0.1%(520)
Chinese0.1%(215)
Nepalese0%(81)
Korean0%(58)
Japanese0%(35)
Taiwanese0%(31)
Laotian0%(26)
Pakistani0%(21)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(135)
Samoan0%(76)
Ancestry
American1.8%(7,627)
German1.8%(7,559)
English1.7%(7,113)
Irish1.1%(4,491)
French0.5%(2,294)
Italian0.5%(1,973)
Scottish0.3%(1,313)
Polish0.2%(779)
Swedish0.2%(738)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(676)
Dutch0.2%(659)
Norwegian0.1%(616)
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data
British0.1%(441)
Welsh0.1%(425)
Czech0.1%(407)
Portuguese0.1%(309)
Canadian0.1%(280)
Russian0.1%(229)
Danish0%(183)
Swiss0%(169)
Hungarian0%(111)
Finnish0%(98)
Croatian0%(82)
Romanian0%(82)
Austrian0%(73)
Ukrainian0%(68)
Bulgarian0%(66)
Israeli0%(58)
Arab0%(46)
Lebanese0%(39)
Ethiopian0%(34)
Armenian0%(33)
Greek0%(32)
Slovak0%(27)
Nigerian0%(23)
Belgian0%(21)
Jamaican0%(16)
Slovene0%(14)
Barbadian0%(12)
Serbian0%(11)
Moroccan0%(10)
Turkish0%(7)
Iranian0%(6)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.2%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
68.6%
+13.3 ptssince 2000
from 55.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.1 min
+53%since 2000
from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2011
from 54.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.3%
−30.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
22.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
28.6%
−37.3 ptssince 2013
from 65.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married36.7%(58,534)
Married53.7%(85,577)
Widowed2.8%(4,488)
Divorced6.7%(10,741)
Women 15+
Never married31.8%(53,133)
Married48.9%(81,638)
Widowed9.6%(16,098)
Divorced9.6%(16,040)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

BrownsvilleCENTRAL192,957HarlingenCENTRAL72,467San Benito24,980Los Fresnos8,703La Feria7,222Cameron Park5,955Primera5,478Port Isabel5,302Laureles4,224Laguna Vista3,780Combes3,255Rancho Viejo2,851La Paloma2,797Encantada-Ranchito-El Calaboz2,552Santa Rosa2,355Rio Hondo2,332South Padre Island2,086Palmer1,435Rice Tracts1,384Palm Valley1,340Los Indios1,059South Point1,054Reid Hope King932Indian Lake892Olmito887Arroyo Colorado Estates856Las Palmas II808Santa Maria669Solis663Bayview556

The 30 most populous of 53 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

What's inside

1 component county

Cameron CountyCENTRAL433,946
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Brownsville

Youngstown
Pop 423,678
Shreveport
Pop 383,474
Mobile
Pop 411,658
Ocala
Pop 442,660
Places similar to Brownsville
Head to head

Compare Brownsville side by side

BROWNSVILLE VS
Youngstown
Income$56,704+38%
Home value$148,636+66%
Population423,678−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROWNSVILLE VS
Shreveport
Income$56,902+38%
Home value$191,527+114%
Population383,474−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROWNSVILLE VS
Mobile
Income$58,880+43%
Home value$190,700+113%
Population411,658−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROWNSVILLE VS
Ocala
Income$61,010+48%
Home value$243,100+171%
Population442,660+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX has about 421,017 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The typical household in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX earns about $41,200 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brownsville-Harlingen, TX expensive?

In Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, the median home is worth about $89,700, and the typical rent is about $746 a month.

How educated are people in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

About 26.7% of people in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brownsville-Harlingen, TX grown since 1990?

Yes, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX has grown since 1990. The population has added about 160,897 residents, a change of about 62 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →