Brownsville
RANK #499 / 996 NAT · #24 / 69 TX · POP 421,854
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Cameron County, Texas, the southernmost county in the state, is perhaps best known as home to South Padre Island, a popular tourist destination with over six miles of county beaches. Located in the Rio Grande Valley, approximately 140 miles south of Corpus Christi, the county offers a unique blend of American and Mexican cultures. The average one-way commute for residents is 20.2 minutes, shorter than the U.S. average. Public transportation, including bus routes and taxis, is available, with shuttle buses and rail services connecting to larger cities. The county boasts year-round warm temperatures and diverse natural geography, including beaches, riverfronts, and ancient river channels, supporting activities like swimming, windsurfing, boating, bird watching, and fishing.
Life in Cameron County offers a blend of small-town living and access to larger cities like Brownsville, the county seat, and Harlingen. The community provides numerous activities and events for families. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in various sectors. The county is seeing expansion in aerospace, with a significant spaceport located in Boca Chica, and development in energy and infrastructure projects, including improvements to international bridges and port facilities. Educational opportunities are available through multiple public school districts, such as Brownsville ISD and Harlingen CISD, and several higher education institutions.
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.4x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Rio Grande LNG Production and Export Terminal (Phase 1)
NextDecade
|
$32,000M | Under Construction |
|
Texas LNG Liquefaction Plant
Texas LNG Limited
|
$3,000M | Proposed |
|
Eneus Energy Data Center Campus
Eneus Energy
|
$2,000M | Proposed |
|
Cameron County Infrastructure Plan (Roads, Bridges, Port/Rail)
Cameron County
|
$2,000M | Planned |
|
Ouroboros Grid BESS 1
Undisclosed
|
$201M | Proposed |
|
Arroyo Energy Storage Portfolio (7 BESS facilities)
Goshe Energy Storage, LLC
|
$180M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Cameron County scores 50/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#499). Median household income is $47,435 and job growth is running at +1.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Cameron County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $109,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.43 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $855/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Cameron County are hiring — job growth of +1.2% — but the population is close to flat (+0.3% YoY). Home values moved +1.0% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
Not particularly — 1.26% of Cameron County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.