Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Brownsville, TX
The median monthly rent in Brownsville, TX is $950, translating to $11,400 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.61% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices.
Renters in Brownsville spend approximately 30% of the local median household income ($38,400) on rent. This is within the healthy 25-30% range, indicating rent is affordable relative to local incomes. There may be room for moderate rent increases, especially for updated or well-located units.
The vacancy rate in Brownsville is 6.5%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Population growth of 0.8% annually provides stable demand.
Brownsville's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 13.6x. A GRM between 12-16x is moderate and typical of balanced markets. Deals can work but you need to keep expenses controlled. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x.
At the median rent of $950/mo, a single-family rental in Brownsville generates approximately $11,400 in gross annual income. After accounting for 6.5% vacancy ($741 lost), property taxes of $2,542, insurance (~$620), and maintenance (~$620), the estimated NOI is $6,877 per year, or $573/mo.