CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

25.82° N · 80.24° W · GEOID 1209000

Brownsville

Miami-Dade County, Florida · part of the Miami, FL metro

FloridaBrownsville, FLBrownsvilleBrownsville

The short answer

Brownsville is home to 16,936 people. Median household income is $40,795 a year and median rent is $1,252 a month, 36.8% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). That is above the usual 30% line for cost burden. The median home is valued at $325,200, about 8.0x annual median household income.

What sets Brownsville apart is how tight household budgets are. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $24,400 a year, less than in 99% of places its size. Also notable: OpenStreetMap shows 67.5 bus and rail stops per square mile, more than in 99% of places its size. It is the 3rd-highest of 474 Florida places we track.

0OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Brownsville scores better than 0% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 473rd of 474 in Florida.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%3
Economy 20%9
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%36
Education 10%6
Commute 10%20
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,252
8% below the median place
Median household income
$40,795
49% below the median place
Median home value
$325,200
2% above the median place
Unemployment
7.5%
53% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Brownsville

  • HousingThe median home costs 8 years of the median household's income, more than in 96% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Brownsville

Miami-Dade County loses about 18.7 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in67,097
Moved out107,355
Net−40,258

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Broward County, FL16,82129,098−12,277
Palm Beach County, FL2,6344,446−1,812
Lee County, FL1,1613,807−2,646
Orange County, FL1,5243,362−1,838
Hillsborough County, FL1,2462,603−1,357
New York County, NY2,031

Within Florida, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within FloridaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$127K
Leavers$78K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Miami-Dade County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
4.3% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.3% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Miami-Dade County report $127,200 a year in income on average; those leaving, $78,100, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$50,100 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,252 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,772 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $325,200.
Getting to work
31 minutes each way on average; 6.5% work from home; 10.9% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Ashland, CA matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Net movers per 1,000 people7
-18.7
below the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7
$127,200
80% above the median place
Moved from another state1
1.3%
36% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureBrownsvilleAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure4.3%24% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.3%36% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-18.7below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$127,20080% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$78,10811% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median rent takes 36.8% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 99% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Brownsville36.8%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$50,080
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
36.8%
80% above the median place
Home price to income
8.0x
110% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
37%
over the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$24,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Brownsville, $1,252 a month, and local prices for everything else (105.7 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Brownsville, but easier on the budget

Places that match Brownsville on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Ashland, CA8431.0% vs 36.8%$32,300Compare
National City, CA8430.4% vs 36.8%$23,100Compare
Lawndale, CA8327.2% vs 36.8%$36,600Compare
Gardena, CA8025.6% vs 36.8%$37,500Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Brownsville.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Brownsville? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
35.7%
46% below the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
65.5%
29% above the median place
Property tax rate1
0.6%
35% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureBrownsvilleAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,2528% below
Rent to income136.8%80% above
Property tax rate10.6%35% below
Home price to income18.0x110% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure114.213% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,56459% above
HUD area median income4County figure$89,80016% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,92741% below
Median home value1$325,2002% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure2.8%13% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure79.5%54% above
Homeownership135.7%46% below
Renters paying 30%+165.5%29% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,7725% below
Vacant homes112.3%74% above
Median year built119661% below
03

Work and pay

Median household income is $40,795, 49% below the median place.

Median household income1
$40,795
49% below the median place
Income per person1
$21,626
46% below the median place
Commutes by transit1
10.9%
above the median place (median 0.8%)

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate26.1% 2.4×
Unemployment7.5% +53%
Works from home6.5% −48%
Mean commute31 min +23%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureBrownsvilleAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$40,79549% below
Income per person1$21,62646% below
Unemployment17.5%53% above
Average annual pay6County figure$81,81824% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure5.4%46% above
Jobs6County figure1,276,535above (median 150,665)
Poverty rate126.1%143% above
Mean commute131 min23% above
Works from home16.5%48% below
Commutes by transit110.9%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Homes with broadband is 74.3%, 20% below the median place.

Homes with broadband1
74.3%
20% below the median place
High school or higher1
72.7%
21% below the median place
Born abroad1
38.4%
335% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

No health insurance17.9% 2.8×
Bachelor's or higher13.6% −58%
Household size2.6 +5%
Median age40.2 +3%
All 8 people measures
MeasureBrownsvilleAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population116,9362706th largest
Median age140.23% above
Bachelor's or higher113.6%58% below
High school or higher172.7%21% below
Household size12.65% above
Born abroad138.4%335% above
No health insurance117.9%180% above
Homes with broadband174.3%20% below
05

Life in Brownsville

OpenStreetMap shows 0 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 93% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 474 Florida places we track.

194 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 5 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents8.3 −19%
Playgrounds per 10k5.9 −37%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k1.8 2.0×
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi67.5 321.6×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Biscayne National Park 22 miles
  • Everglades National Park 45 miles
  • Big Cypress National Preserve 53 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars22.2 +7%
Shops39.5 +30%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.9 +44%
Doctors' offices and clinics33.8 +67%
Child care centers2.8 +22%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
22.4
27% below the median place
Public school students12
335,631
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools12
530
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureBrownsvilleAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure530above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure335,631above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure19.426% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure22.27% above
Shops per 10k8County figure39.530% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure5.944% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure33.867% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.822% above
Parks per 10k98.319% below
Playgrounds per 10k95.937% below
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k91.8103% above
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi967.5above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1022.427% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10350% above
National Register listings11County figure194above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

January average low is 58°F, 128% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Brownsville. Larger places are fetched first.

January average low13
58°F
128% above the median place
Average temperature13
76°F
39% above the median place
Hurricane risk14
100.0
41% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureBrownsvilleAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure91°F5% above
January average low13County figure58°F128% above
Average temperature13County figure76°F39% above
Annual precipitation13County figure57.5 in31% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure99.68% above
Hurricane risk14County figure100.041% above
Tornado risk14County figure98.721% above
Wildfire risk14County figure96.858% above
Heat wave risk14County figure99.310% above
Median air quality index15County figure479% above
Good air days15County figure56.4%18% below
08

Brownsville in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 37% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 37% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Brownsville does better than 2% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 91%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,252/mo (2024)$1,640/mo$1,340 to $1,990/mo+4.6%
Median household income$40,795 (2024)$53,000$45,000 to $63,000+4.5%
Median home value$325,200 (2024)$486,000$353,000 to $670,000+6.9%

The median home would be worth 9.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 8.0 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Brownsville

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Port Jervis, NY$1,260$47,917Compare
Crescent City, CA$1,192$35,540Compare
Ware, MA$1,039$45,158Compare
Mango, FL$1,277$52,524Compare
Mango, FLWare, MACrescent City, CAPort Jervis, NYBrownsville, FLBrownsvillePort JervisCrescent CityWareMangoBrownsvillePort JervisCrescent CityWareMango

Places built like Brownsville

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Brownsville performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Brownsville, FL36.8%9.9%/yrn/a
Opa-locka, FL43.2%11.8%/yr-1.8%Compare
Landover, MD28.9%3.8%/yrn/aCompare
Lake Worth Beach, FL30.3%9.9%/yr4.1%Compare
Oak Ridge, FL32.2%7.3%/yrn/aCompare
Pinewood, FL30.9%10.9%/yrn/aCompare
Lantana, FL30.1%7.1%/yr6.7%Compare

Common questions

Is Brownsville a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 0 out of 100, better than 0% of the places we rate and 473rd of 474 in Florida. The median home costs 8 years of the median household's income, more than in 96% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 1 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Brownsville expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 36.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $325,200.

What salary do you need to live in Brownsville?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $50,080 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Brownsville?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Port Jervis, NY, Crescent City, CA, Ware, MA and Mango, FL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Brownsville with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Brownsville itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/brownsville-florida

Citytistics. “Brownsville, Florida.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/brownsville-florida/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.