The Brownsville metro is home to 423,192 people (up 0.3% over five years), with a median household income of $51,334. Typical rent of $1,509/month works out to 35.3% of the median household income — above the 30% affordability threshold, a strain signal (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Brownsville's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 31.5% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Professional & management | 8.9% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.3% |
| Construction | 7.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 35.3% of median income leave little headroom — expect tenant price sensitivity. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Brownsville market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,509/month suggests a household income around $60,000/year. The metro's median household income is $51,334.
By workforce share: Education & health care (31.5%), Retail trade (11.4%), Professional & management (8.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).