City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Brownsville, TN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Brownsville - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,634
Residents
$39,488
Median income
$119,700
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Brownsville - the verdict

Nationally, Brownsville sits in the 7th percentile for household income and the 10th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

7th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
10th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Brownsville, TN

Tennessee's Brownsville is a small town, with 9,634 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $39,488 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.0%. Home values in Brownsville run a median of $119,700, and the median resident age is 41.1 years. Educational attainment runs 11.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 52.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 7 residential building permits were authorized in Brownsville (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. Brownsville's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3540.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 60.9°F with 56.1 inches of precipitation per year and 2.2 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Tennessee scores 91.9 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $925 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Tennessee's average monthly utility costs around $218 (state average). The average commute for Brownsville workers runs 22.8 minutes, with 81.0% driving alone and 3.6% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 64.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

9,634 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$39,488 /yr

Poverty 25.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Brownsville compare to other US cities?

Brownsville measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities
Safety 10% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Tennessee alone, Brownsville ranks #156 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Brownsville's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Tennessee, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

7thIncome percentile
10thSafety percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income · 10th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Brownsville's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Brownsville's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Brownsville's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Brownsville's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$119,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Brownsville $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Brownsville, TN Brownsville, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brownsville, TN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Brownsville, TN median $39,488/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Brownsville, TN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Brownsville, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,634
Median Income
$39,488
Median Home Value
$119,700
Median Age
41.1
Poverty Rate
25.0%
Labor force participation
52.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3540.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1036.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2504.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
60.9°F
Annual Precipitation
56.1"
Annual Snowfall
2.2"

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,200 residents9,400 residents9,600 residents9,800 residents10,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,887 residents 9,301 residents ▼ -5.9%
Brownsville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 7

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.8 minutes
Drive Alone
81.0%
Carpool
9.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
3.6%
Other
4.2%

Based on 3,838 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Tennessee - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Tennessee state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Tennessee state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Brownsville sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
64.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Winchester
9,600 people
Oakland
9,544 people
Fairview
9,751 people
Halls
9,455 people
Fairfield Glade
9,149 people
Clinton
10,141 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brownsville's 9,634 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Matawan, NJ
9,636 people
Burlington, WA
9,637 people
Walker Mill, MD
9,626 people
Sunbury, PA
9,643 people
Middletown, KY
9,622 people
Bala Cynwyd, PA
9,622 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brownsville's $39,488 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lebanon, KY
$39,483 median income
East Bernstadt, KY
$39,500 median income
Saline, LA
$39,500 median income
Wellston, MO
$39,474 median income
Benwood, WV
$39,474 median income
Vienna, IL
$39,471 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brownsville, TN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Brownsville, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 24.2% 69.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.3% White 24.2% Black or African American 69.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.8% Two or more races 1.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Brownsville compares to nearby Tennessee cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Brownsville (this city) 9,634 $39,488
Winchester 9,600 $59,497
Oakland 9,544 $89,240
Fairview 9,751 $88,333
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brownsville, TN?

What is the population of Brownsville, TN? +

Brownsville, TN has a population of 9,634 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Brownsville, TN? +

The median household income in Brownsville is $39,488 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Brownsville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Brownsville; the closest available measure is the Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

Is Brownsville, TN safe? +

Brownsville has a total crime rate of 3540.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Brownsville, TN? +

Homes in Brownsville carry a median value of $119,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Brownsville? +

Brownsville has an average annual temperature of 60.9°F, 56.1 inches of precipitation, and 2.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.