Brownsville is the largest city in the Rio Grande Valley
Situated at the southernmost point of Texas, on the border with Mexico, Brownsville is the largest city in the Rio Grande Valley, with a population of 190,000. It saw a major boom in 2020, with the arrival of the SpaceX Starbase, located just 20 miles east in Boca Chica. "Prices and new developments have gone up all over the city, but the growth is exciting. It's helped us with a lot of revitalization, especially downtown,” says Bruno Zavaleta, owner of Zavaleta Realty and a native of Brownsville. "Still, I think it’s a pretty peaceful place and laidback enough to raise a family. The only difference is that people didn’t really know what Brownsville was before, but now we’re much more recognized.” SpaceX is one of area's biggest private employers, but Brownsville's largest employers are the Brownsville Independent School District, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the Port of Brownsville, the largest deep-water seaport in Texas.
Southmost Brownsville is made up of mostly residential homes and commercial areas as well.
A fully stacked Starship 25 awaits its launch date at Boca Chica State Park.
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Home prices are on the rise in Brownsville
As the population has increased, Brownsville has seen an influx of new construction. "Like in every city, we've got older established neighborhoods, but these new subdivisions are experiencing tremendous growth," says Azeneth Badiola, broker and owner of Badiola Real Estate in Brownsville. Large, new-construction stucco homes along Palm Boulevard or on the city's outskirts can sell for over $400,000, but midcentury ranch-style homes and bungalows in the Mitte Cultural District and other older areas are typically in the $275,000 range. The average selling price for Brownsville as a whole is $290,000, which is about $100,000 higher than it was in 2019, but still significantly lower than the national average of about $415,000. This increase is primarily credited to SpaceX taking up residence just east of Brownsville. “I think the price is going to keep increasing as we get bigger,” Zavaleta says. “They’re talking about bringing in hundreds more employees for SpaceX as it keeps expanding, so demand will be greater than ever.” Brownsville's nearby neighborhood, the smaller city of Harlingen, is also experiencing a huge boom of new development. With comparable prices for modern houses in brand-new suburbs, some may choose to live in Harlingen and commute the 20 miles into Brownsville.
A mix of modern two story and one story stucco style homes can be found in the Southmost area.
Rows of cottage and bungalow style homes are found along Washington St in Brownsville.
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Brownsville ISD is the metro area's largest school district
The Brownsville Independent School District serves most of the city, part of the town of Rancho Viejo and unincorporated communities on the outskirts. It is the largest school district in the Rio Grande Valley metro area. It operates 34 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and seven high schools, along with four alternative schools. Several elementary schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Six colleges and universities are within Brownsville, including The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the 10th-largest university in Texas. Some residents from nearby Harlingen may choose to enroll their children into the Brownsville ISD for a larger choice of magnet schools or pre-medical programs.
Stell Middle School located nearby Historic Brownsville has a student population of 819.
Jubliee Leadership Academy embraces modern and engaging teaching methods for Brownsville.
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Museums and more at Dean Porter Park
The City of Brownsville Parks and Recreation Department manages 40 parks within city limits, 55 athletic fields and several public pools and gymnasiums. Dean Porter Park is a community hub in downtown's Mitte Cultural District and is the site of the Children's Museum of Brownsville and the Camille Lightner Playhouse, a venue for community theater. Next door is the family-friendly Gladys Porter Zoo. Local history is memorialized in the Historic Brownsville Museum, set inside the 1928 Southern Pacific Railroad train depot.
Dean Porter Park has multiple docks that are used for fishing or birdwatching.
Historic Brownsville has several bike and hike trails located throughout the area.
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Downtown Brownsville is a growing dining destination
Downtown Brownsville has experienced a boom of new eateries and shops since the population influx in 2020. "We have a ton of new restaurants that have opened since our city got more popular. It's really good for us, from both a revitalization and economy viewpoint," Zavaleta says. Other notable restaurants in the city include Vera's Backyard Bar-B-Que, which received a James Beard Award in 2020 as an American Classic for its traditional barbacoa.
Shopping centers are scattered around the city, with the largest concentration found north of downtown. Lining Interstate 69E are big-box stores and national retailers, as well as the city's largest mall, Sunrise Mall. Valley Regional Medical Center, the biggest general hospital in the city, is also just off the interstate.
Experience fine dining at Toscafino Restaurant in East Brownsville.
Multiple food vendors can be found throughout during the annual Charro Days celebration.
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The vibrancy of the annual Latin Jazz Festival
Brownsville has several annual events, many of which celebrate the city's Latino and Hispanic heritage. In February, there's Charro Days, in collaboration with Matamoros, a city of nearly 1 million across the border in Mexico. "We’re really well-known for it; it’s such a huge festival for celebrating Mexican heritage,” Zavaleta says. The Latin Jazz Festival is another significant event, taking place in early October in Downtown Brownsville. Running for three days, it showcases Latin culture through art, dance and music.
Main event bands with mariachi bands perform at the center stage of Una Noche En Garibaldi.
Una Noche En Garibaldi event opens up with a group of folklorico performers.
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Navigating on Interstate 69E and finding public transport
The major thoroughfares in Brownsville are Interstate 69E and U.S. Route 77, while three international bridges connect with Mexico. Brownville is about 26 miles from Harlingen via I-69E, and about 28 miles from South Padre Island via Texas State Highway 48. The Brownsville Metro has three bus hubs that run 13 routes, covering a good portion of the city. Brownsville has 64 miles of hike and bike trails and on-street bike lanes. In 2016, a bike-share program was established in alliance with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. About 5 miles from downtown, the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport offers a handful of flights operated by United and American Airlines but mainly services commercial flights.
Crime statistics and weather patterns for Brownsville
According to the Brownsville Police Department's 2023 Annual Crime Report, violent crime dropped nearly 16%, and property crime fell by almost 7% from 2022. Overall, Texas experienced a more than 5% drop in violent crime and a slight decrease in property crime in the same period. Heat is a significant factor in living in Brownsville, and it's not unusual for summer temperatures to hit triple digits while winters are incredibly mild. Since Brownsville is only 30 miles from the Gulf Coast, heavy rainfall and hurricanes are possible.
On average, homes in Brownsville, TX sell after 88 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The median sale price for homes in Brownsville, TX over the last 12 months is $255,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Prior to being in Real Estate, I spent 30+ years in the hospitality industry managing everything from economy brands to full service hotels. My focus and passion has always been customer service. I think one of the most important things is to be able to listen. If you listen to your client, you will not only be able to find the home of their dreams but make it a reality. Originally from Ohio, I have been in the RGV for over 20 years. The RGV has been the perfect place to call home with my beautiful wife and our 3 amazing children. Whether your dream is living the City life….. Country / Ranch life …or the Island life, the Rio Grande Valley has it all and I can help make it a reality! I look forward to working with you to start your home buying or selling journey, as your biggest supporter and your guide. TOGETHER MAKING YOUR DREAM A REALITY.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
