The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 78521 sells for about $220,000, or $157 per square foot.
Prices are down 9.13% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 75 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,350 a month.
ZIP 78521 — Brownsville
The housing market in 78521 is currently experiencing a period of price adjustment with a median sale price of $220,000. Market activity remains steady, though year-over-year price trends indicate a cooling phase compared to previous periods. Demand is supported by local affordability and consistent inventory levels.
This ZIP is well-suited for families and budget-conscious buyers looking for established neighborhoods with proximity to local amenities and major transit corridors.
Median prices moved down 9.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 75 days on market with 0.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 0% of asking — demand is holding steady.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.9% · poverty 28.0% — a mixed stability profile.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 78521, Cameron County TX
The area is served by the Brownsville Independent School District, which maintains a variety of public school options for residents.
The region is subject to coastal weather patterns, including hurricane and flood risks common to the South Texas border area.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, international trade, and ongoing development in the Brownsville metropolitan area.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Texas) — Senior (65+) and Disabled Homestead Exemption and School Tax Ceiling: Grants an additional mandatory $10,000 exemption from ISD appraised value (Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100,000 - $10,000) and establishes an absolute statutory tax freeze (school tax ceiling): total ISD property taxes cannot exceed the dollar ceiling established in the… State (Texas) — General Residence Homestead Exemption and 10% Valuation Growth Cap: Imposes mandatory state-level valuation deductions and growth limitations on the qualifying homestead: (1) Mandates a $100,000 deduction from appraised value for independent school district (ISD) maintenance and operations/debt taxation: Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100… State (Texas) — Ad Valorem Real Property Taxation and Assessment Ratio: Mandates ad valorem appraisal of all real property at 100% of fair market value as of January 1 each tax year (Assessment Ratio = 1.00).
Residents typically rely on personal vehicles for commuting, with easy access to local expressways connecting to the Brownsville employment core.
The area features local parks and proximity to shopping and dining districts within the Brownsville city limits.
The rental market shows a slight downward trajectory in pricing with a significant renter share of approximately 40%.
The local economy is anchored by international trade, logistics, and public sector employment within the Brownsville metropolitan area.
The area is served by major highway corridors providing access to the broader Brownsville region.
Development activity is focused on residential expansion and infrastructure improvements within the Brownsville city limits.
The Cameron County Appraisal District manages property assessments for the region.
Parcels are subject to various taxing entities including the Brownsville Independent School District and local municipal districts.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by the area's coastal location and associated wind and flood risk profiles.
Data retrieved from Census Bureau ZCTA profiles and local market reports.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Beach Waterpark4.212.7 mi
- Gravity Park4.413.4 mi
- Bobz World4.39.4 mi
- Chuck E. Cheese4.311.1 mi
- Get Air Trampoline Park4.19.8 mi
- Margaritaville Beach Resort - South Padre Island412.9 mi
- Clayton's Beach Bar & Event Venue4.315.1 mi
- LongBoard Bar and Grill4.513.2 mi
- Louie's Backyard3.913.4 mi
- South Padre Island Convention Center4.515 mi
- Gladys Porter Zoo4.611.1 mi
- Beach Waterpark4.212.7 mi
- Brownsville Sports Park4.511.9 mi
- Olympic Park Culture and Knowledge4.512.3 mi
- Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site4.610.5 mi
- Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site4.610.5 mi
- Children's Museum of Brownsville4.611 mi
- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park4.69.7 mi
- Bobz World4.39.4 mi
- Rigo Tovar Museum4.512.2 mi
- Isla Blanca Park4.512.5 mi
- Brownsville Sports Park4.511.9 mi
- Olympic Park Culture and Knowledge4.512.3 mi
- Ernesto Gamez Cascade Park4.68 mi
- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park4.69.7 mi
- Jim's Pier4.513.4 mi
- South Padre Island Golf Club4.29.8 mi
- Brownsville Golf Center4.110.4 mi
- Long Island Village Golf Course4.710 mi
- Sunrise Mall4.410.8 mi
- Ross Dress for Less4.210.9 mi
- Ross Dress for Less4.511.7 mi
- 77 Flea Market4.412.1 mi
- Burlington411.1 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Various neighborhood parks serving the local community.
Deterministic aggregate of 1 researched property in this ZIP (latest reading each) — each property weighs one; per point, properties lacking the value are excluded. Property-level records (taxes, scores, permits) never roll individually.
No county-record distress flags across 1 researched property on the ARED base layer. Key-figure check: median price diverges 23.3% from the nearest retained anchor (researched-property base layer) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Validation: confirmed genuine market swing — the flagged $220,000 was independently re-read and corroborated by 2 source(s); it stands as the new anchor baseline.