Skip to main content

Brown County, Texas Demographics 2026

Brown County, Texas has a population of 38,294, the 82nd most populous county in Texas. The median household income is $55,305 and the median home value is $149,900. The poverty rate is 14.5%.

Brown County Quick Facts

Population 38,294
Median Household Income $55,305
Median Home Value $149,900
Poverty Rate 14.5%
Unemployment Rate 4.8%
Median Age 41.4 years
Homeownership Rate 68.2%
Affordability Ratio 2.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 19.9%
High School Graduation 87.7%
Cities/Places 8
Population 38,294 82nd of 254
Median Income $55,305 28% lower than state
Poverty Rate 14.5%
Unemployment 4.8%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.6%
$25K-$50K 24.8%
$50K-$100K 29.1%
$100K+ 24.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.8%
$10K-$15K
4.5%
$15K-$20K
6.1%
$20K-$25K
6.2%
$25K-$30K
5.7%
$30K-$35K
4.3%
$35K-$40K
5.4%
$40K-$45K
5.1%
$45K-$50K
4.3%
$50K-$60K
6.8%
$60K-$75K
10.2%
$75K-$100K
12.0%
$100K-$125K
8.4%
$125K-$150K
5.1%
$150K-$200K
6.8%
$200K+
4.3%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
56.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.2%
Renter 31.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

45out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 67 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Brown County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Brownwood18,805$47,82118.9%$123,700
Early3,159$69,3759.8%$170,700
Lake Brownwood1,754$60,98718.8%$116,900
Bangs1,731$50,48612.5%$106,300
Thunderbird Bay820$48,17912.9%$73,900
Blanket360$45,41712.5%$77,300
Zephyr215$29,5434.2%$65,000
May151$64,00012.6%$83,300

Population Overview

Brown County is located in Texas with a total population of 38,294. It is the 82nd most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brown County is 41.4 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brown County is $55,305. This is 28% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 14.5%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $149,900. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Brown County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Brown County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 22.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (70.5% vs 39.9%). The Black or African American population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Brown County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Texas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Brown County, Texas?

Brown County has a population of 38,294, making it the 82nd most populous county in Texas.

What is the median income in Brown County?

The median household income in Brown County is $55,305 with a poverty rate of 14.5%.

How many cities are in Brown County, Texas?

Brown County contains 8 Census-designated places.