City · Tennessee
Brownsville, Tennessee
Brownsville, city, in Haywood County, Tennessee. Brownsville had 9,301 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 6.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,788 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,622 (±20). GEOID 4708920.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,301
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,788 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,622 ±20
Median household income
$43,494
±$3,894 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$158,100
±$18,397 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$767
±$73 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Brownsville and what county is it in?
Brownsville is a city in Haywood County, Tennessee. It covers 9.9 square miles of land, 993 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Brownsville, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,301 people lived in Brownsville on July 1, 2025, down 6.2% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. The 2020 Census counted 9,788 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,622 (±20).
| Measure | Brownsville | Haywood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,622 ±20 | 17,475 | no clear change |
| Households | 3,856 ±226 | 7,167 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.45 ±0.14 | 2.41 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,322 ±201 | 8,260 | no clear change |
Brownsville's population since 2000
From 10,748 in 2000 to 9,301 in 2025: down 13.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Brownsville as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Brownsville?
The median resident of Brownsville is 40.4 years old; 24.2% are under 18 and 20.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 67.0%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 24.0%. 1.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Brownsville | Haywood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 ±2.7 | 43.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.2% ±1.6 pts | 21.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.5% ±1.9 pts | 21.0% | – |
| Male | 44.2% ±2.0 pts | 47.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.7% ±2.4 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 24.0% ±2.6 pts | 43.1% | −5.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 67.0% ±3.4 pts | 48.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.7 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2% ±0.7 pts | 1.5% | −2.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.1% ±1.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.6% ±1.6 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 23.8% ±3.0 pts | 23.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.8% ±2.5 pts | 11.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.8% ±3.7 pts | 83.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.7% ±2.9 pts | 14.5% | +4.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.9% ±1.5 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.5% ±3.1 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±1.0 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Brownsville earn?
Half of Brownsville's 3,856 households earn less than $43,494 a year (±$3,894), against $50,472 in Haywood County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $41,584 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Brownsville | Haywood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,494 ±$3,894 | $50,472 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $57,752 ±$5,441 | $67,310 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,360 ±$2,426 | $28,041 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.7% ±5.0 pts | 21.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 35.5% ±11.7 pts | 32.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 31.6% ±5.0 pts | 24.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.3% ±2.6 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.0% ±4.1 pts | 81.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Brownsville?
Owners occupy 47.6% of Brownsville's occupied homes and renters 52.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,100 by its owner (±$18,397). The median renter pays $767 a month including utilities, and 43.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Brownsville | Haywood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $158,100 ±$18,397 | $152,400 | +$49,676 |
| Median gross rent | $767 ±$73 | $762 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.9% ±9.6 pts | 43.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,169 ±$65 | $1,216 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 47.6% ±5.3 pts | 60.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 52.4% ±5.3 pts | 39.3% | – |
| Housing units | 4,322 ±201 | 8,260 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.8% ±2.6 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.0% ±4.6 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.1% ±4.5 pts | 73.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.0% ±1.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.6% ±2.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 16.4% ±4.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Brownsville building?
Builders took permits for 74 new housing units in Brownsville in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 8.0 per 1,000 residents against 5.9 across Tennessee.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Brownsville work and get to work?
82.2% of Brownsville's workers drive alone and 3.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.6%.
| Measure | Brownsville | Haywood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.9% ±4.1 pts | 56.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.6% ±3.1 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.2% ±5.2 pts | 80.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.4% ±4.1 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 2.2% ±1.7 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.6% ±2.1 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.5 min ±2.3 | 26.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Brownsville?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Brownsville (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $38,969 (Tract 9303.02) to $48,438 (Tract 9303.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9303.01Haywood County | 4,099 | $48,438 |
| Tract 9303.02Haywood County | 2,646 | $38,969 |
| Tract 9304Haywood County | 3,825 | $42,826 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Brownsville) · Census block assignment files
How does Brownsville compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Brownsville is the 3,376th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 67th-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Brownsville ranks 243rd of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 67th | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 224th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 71st | 289 |
| Median household income | 243rd | 287 |
| Per capita income | 249th | 289 |
| Median home value | 225th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 198th | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 39th | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 205th | 276 |
| Median age | 150th | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 265th | 289 |
| Work from home | 165th | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 197th | 288 |
Brownsville's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Brownsville with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Brownsville?
11 of the 57 figures for Brownsville on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Brownsville are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Brownsville.