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Brownsville city, TX

ZIP 78520 — Housing & Real Estate

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Working ClassLarge CommunityLow Snow Area

Home values, rent, tenure, and housing stock

Housing & Real Estate in ZIP Code 78520

Median Home Value
$129,200
Median Rent
$616
Affordability Snapshot
$36,000
Est. income to buy

Household income needed for a median home under a 20% down / 6.8% illustrative mortgage model (~$830/mo PITI).

16%
Rent-to-Income Ratio

Below the 30% threshold — generally affordable for median earners.

2.7x
Home Price-to-Income Ratio

Below 3x — relatively affordable housing market.

17.5 yrs
Price-to-Rent Ratio

Years to break even buying vs renting at median home value and rent.

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 78520 in Brownsville city, TX, a household would need roughly $36,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $830. That sits below the local median household income ($47,331), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Housing Tenure

Vacancy rate 11% — check local market conditions.

Heating Fuel
Housing Metrics
Owner Occupied
58.5%-11% vs US avg
x
Vacancy Rate
11.1%+8% vs US avg
x
Broadband Access
79.6%-9% vs US avg
x
4+ Bedrooms
1.7%-88% vs US avg
x
Built Pre-1939
2.9%-78% vs US avg
x
Built Post-2014
1.2%-82% vs US avg
x
Rent Burden >30%
19.2%-61% vs US avg
x
Mortgage-Free
56.0%+46% vs US avg
x
$129,200
Home Value
$616
Rent
1990
Year Built
2013
Moved In

Residents have lived here since ~2013 on average

Housing Structure

Census ACS structure types (single-family, multi-unit, etc.).

  • 1-unit detached67.3%
  • 1-unit attached3.1%
  • 2-9 units13.5%
  • 10+ units10.7%
  • Mobile home & other5.4%

Housing & Real Estate key statistics

Housing statistics
Housing
Median home value$129,200
Median rent$616
Owner-occupied58.5%
Vacant11.1%
Price-to-income2.7x
Est. income to buy$36,000