Brownsville Texas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Brownsville, TX (the Brownsville-Harlingen metro area) was $787 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Brownsville was $742 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Brownsville median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Brownsville rental vacancy rates, Brownsville rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Brownsville.
Real Gross Rent in Brownsville Texas (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Texas Median Gross Rent | $1,091 | +2.44% | +8.99% |
| Brownsville, TX Median Gross Rent | $787 | +8.55% | +10.69% |
Brownsville, TX Real Gross Rent Trends
At $787, real median gross rent in Brownsville was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $742, real average gross rent in Brownsville was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Brownsville: Brownsville TX Median, Brownsville TX Average, Texas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Brownsville
| Date | US Median |
Texas Median |
Brownsville, TX Median |
Brownsville, TX Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,091 | $787 | $742 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,065 | $725 | $670 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,018 | $719 | $691 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,001 | $711 | $684 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $989 | $682 | $630 |
| 2014 | $986 | $946 | $689 | $650 |
| 2013 | $953 | $902 | $644 | $603 |
| 2012 | $940 | $884 | $649 | $610 |
| 2011 | $941 | $878 | $690 | $650 |
| 2010 | $955 | $895 | $706 | $683 |
| 2009 | $960 | $898 | $674 | $634 |
| 2007 | $927 | $862 | $578 | $564 |
| 2005 | $910 | $839 | $646 | $605 |
Brownsville Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Brownsville Texas was 5.56% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Brownsville Texas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Texas | 8.15% | -0.06% | +0.50% |
| Brownsville, TX | 5.56% | -3.14% | -3.20% |
Trends in Brownsville, TX Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Brownsville peaked in 2013 at 14.05%. Since then it has fallen by 8.49% to 5.56%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Brownsville TX, Texas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Brownsville
| Date | US | Texas | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 8.15% | 5.56% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 8.21% | 8.70% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.49% | 8.52% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 7.65% | 8.76% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.95% | 8.88% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.30% | 12.34% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.86% | 14.05% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 8.53% | 11.01% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 9.23% | 7.48% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 10.60% | 10.22% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.69% | 8.73% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.61% | 7.89% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.60% | 11.82% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Brownsville, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Brownsville, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 22.97% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Brownsville Texas Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Texas | 20.45% | -0.26% | +0.16% |
| Brownsville, TX | 22.97% | +0.70% | +0.98% |
Trends in Brownsville, TX Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Brownsville household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2005 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.13%. Since then it has fallen by 2.17% to 22.97%. From a 2007 low of 20.12%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 2.85%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Brownsville TX, Texas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Brownsville Texas
| Date | US | Texas | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.45% | 22.97% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.70% | 22.26% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.00% | 22.62% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.28% | 21.99% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.10% | 22.64% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.27% | 24.42% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.89% | 21.36% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.65% | 23.65% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.75% | 23.91% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.77% | 23.90% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.59% | 22.98% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.52% | 20.12% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 19.11% | 25.13% |
Renter Fraction in Brownsville Texas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Brownsville in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Brownsville as a fraction of total Brownsville households. In 2019 34.98% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Brownsville Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Texas | 38.12% | -0.16% | -0.79% |
| Brownsville, TX | 34.98% | +1.41% | +1.44% |
Trends in the Brownsville, TX Renter Fraction
The Brownsville household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 35.69% and is now 0.71% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Brownsville TX, Texas, US
History of Brownsville Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Texas | Brownsville, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 38.12% | 34.98% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.28% | 33.57% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 38.03% | 35.01% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.91% | 33.54% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.94% | 34.01% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.84% | 33.06% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.16% | 31.31% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.72% | 35.69% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.08% | 32.15% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.42% | 32.44% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 36.32% | 33.71% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.82% | 32.10% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.29% | 34.58% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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