Neighborhood in Brownsville, Cameron County

Living in Southwest Brownsville, Brownsville

A-

1st of 15areas in Brownsville
Overall score 85 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Brownsville overall: C

Southwest Brownsville covers part of Brownsville, TX, home to about 14,900 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 1st of 15 areas we score in Brownsville. It does best on schools and worst on errands and things to do.

  • Top-rated schools
  • Hurricane risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store1.0 mi
Pharmacy1.1 mi
Park0.6 mi
Cafe0.8 mi
Restaurant0.5 mi
Gym0.7 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.1 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library3.4 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
14,930
Median rent
$1,470
Median home value
$231,000
Household income
$104,100
Average commute
22 min
Homes owned
85%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Southwest Brownsville

Southwest Brownsville is an area in Brownsville with about 14,900 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2005), mostly owner-occupied (85%) and 54% of households with children.

It grades A- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 1st of 15 areas in Brownsville, which grades C overall.

Pros of living in Southwest Brownsville

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $104,100, 100% higher than the Brownsville median.
  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.

Cons of living in Southwest Brownsville

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,470, 59% higher than the Brownsville median.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes as very high in this part of town.

Southwest Brownsville report card

Each grade compares Southwest Brownsville with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade B-

    Median rent $1,470, homes cost 2.2x income.

    64 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B-

    Median household income $104,100, 3.6% unemployed.

    60 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A-

    Nearby schools average 89 of 100 on the state rating.

    85 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 405 violent crimes per 100k, 1,528 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade C-

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    36 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B-

    Average commute 22 min, 11% work from home.

    62 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C+

    43% have a bachelor’s degree.

    50 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C

    25% of adults uninsured.

    46 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B+

    85% of homes owner-occupied.

    79 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B-

    95% of homes have broadband.

    60 of 100 vs TX areas

Southwest Brownsville compared with Brownsville

Better than Brownsville

  • Median household income: $104,100100% higher than Brownsville ($52,130)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 85%24 points higher than Brownsville (62%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 43%18 points higher than Brownsville (25%)

Worse than Brownsville

  • Median rent: $1,47059% higher than Brownsville ($923)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 51%3 points higher than Brownsville (48%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 0.3%2 points lower than Brownsville (2.1%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BBurns ElementaryElementary, Brownsville ISD1.1 mi
  • BVela MiddleMiddle, Brownsville ISD1.4 mi
  • BHanna Early College High SchoolHigh, Brownsville ISD4.1 mi

Cost of living in Southwest Brownsville

Median rent in Southwest Brownsville is $1,470 a month, 59% higher than the Brownsville median. A household would need about $59,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $231,000, 65% higher than the Brownsville median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,614 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereBrownsvilleTexas
Median rent59% higher than Brownsville$1,470$923$1,403
Median home value65% higher than Brownsville$231,000$139,900$283,800
Home value to income17% lower than Brownsville2.2x2.7x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent3 points higher than Brownsville51%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them24 points higher than Brownsville85%62%63%
Vacant homes6 points lower than Brownsville1.8%7.8%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Brownsville200519951992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,614
Mortgage payment
$1,264
Property tax
$349
Median rent, for comparison
$1,470

Based on a $231,000 home in Southwest Brownsville, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereBrownsvilleTexas
Median household income100% higher than Brownsville$104,100$52,130$78,476
Unemployment rate3 points lower than Brownsville3.6%6.2%5.3%
People below the poverty line15 points lower than Brownsville8.7%24%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher18 points higher than Brownsville43%25%34%
Average commuteAbout the same as Brownsville22 min21 min27 min
Workers who work from home3 points higher than Brownsville11%8.4%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Brownsville0.3%2.1%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet9 points higher than Brownsville95%86%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingModerate
  • Coastal floodingModerate
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Southwest Brownsville

Under 1833%
18 to 3417%
35 to 6438%
65 and over11%
Race and ethnicity
White5.6%
Hispanic or Latino91%
Black0%
Asian2.9%
Other or more than one race0.4%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Brownsville

  1. 2BLos EbanosMedian rent $1,000
  2. 3BValle Hermosa Colonia
  3. 4BSouth BrownsvilleMedian rent $1,010
  4. 5B-RiversideMedian rent $680
  5. 6C+West BrownsvilleMedian rent $1,160
  6. 7C+Los Cuates South ColoniaMedian rent $970
  7. 8C+Northwest BrownsvilleMedian rent $820
  8. 9CBoca Chica and Medford Colonia

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. A-Central McAllenMcAllen
  2. A-Park PlaceDeer Park
  3. A-Palm Vista EstatesHarlingen

Questions about Southwest Brownsville

Is Southwest Brownsville a good place to live?

Southwest Brownsville covers part of Brownsville, TX, home to about 14,900 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 1st of 15 areas we score in Brownsville. It does best on schools and worst on errands and things to do.

How much does it cost to live in Southwest Brownsville?

Median rent in Southwest Brownsville is $1,470 a month, 59% higher than the Brownsville median. The median home is worth $231,000, 65% higher than the Brownsville median. A median home costs 2.2x the median household income, compared with 2.7x across Brownsville.

What schools serve Southwest Brownsville?

The closest rated public schools are Burns Elementary (elementary, rated B), Vela Middle (middle, rated B) and Hanna Early College High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 9 Census block groups in this part of Brownsville that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.