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Brownsville city, TX

ZIP 78521 — 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 78521

Median Home Value
$90,500
Median Rent
$682
Affordability Snapshot
$25,000
Est. income to buy

Household income needed for a median home under a 20% down / 6.8% illustrative mortgage model (~$581/mo PITI).

20%
Rent-to-Income Ratio

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

2.2x
Home Price-to-Income Ratio

Below 3x — relatively affordable housing market.

11.1 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 78521 in Brownsville city, TX, a household would need roughly $25,000 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 $581. That sits below the local median household income ($41,276), 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

Diverse housing tenure.

Heating Fuel
Housing Metrics
Owner Occupied
59.4%-9% vs US avg
x
Vacancy Rate
7.1%-31% vs US avg
x
Broadband Access
78.8%-9% vs US avg
x
4+ Bedrooms
1.6%-89% vs US avg
x
Built Pre-1939
3.5%-73% vs US avg
x
Built Post-2014
0.8%-89% vs US avg
x
Rent Burden >30%
27.2%-45% vs US avg
x
Mortgage-Free
69.9%+83% vs US avg
x
$90,500
Home Value
$682
Rent
1989
Year Built
2010
Moved In

Residents have lived here since ~2010 on average

Housing Structure

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

  • 1-unit detached63.9%
  • 1-unit attached3.2%
  • 2-9 units13.2%
  • 10+ units10.9%
  • Mobile home & other8.8%

Housing & Real Estate key statistics

Housing statistics
Housing
Median home value$90,500
Median rent$682
Owner-occupied59.4%
Vacant7.1%
Price-to-income2.2x
Est. income to buy$25,000