Brownsville, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Brownsville is a major urban center located in Texas, within Cameron County. The total population is 189,177. It ranks as the 18th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brownsville is 31.2 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 28.4% of the population under 18, Brownsville has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brownsville is $52,130. This is 34% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.7%. This is 72% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.2%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $139,900. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Brownsville is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Brownsville has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 4.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (4.4%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (94.0% vs 39.7%). The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 72.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Brownsville, Texas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.