Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · Texas
Cameron County
ZIP 78521
423,192 residents2,158 permits TTM$51,334 median HHI16 ZIP codesUpdated April 16, 2026
Investor first look
Median home value
$120,000
ACS 5-Year
Cap rate proxy
9.0%
FMR × 0.65 ÷ Home Value
Rent-to-income
21.0%
HUD FMR ÷ ACS HHI
Net migration
+0.67%
IRS SOI
Permits (TTM)
2,158
Census BPS
Climate risk
97.3
FEMA NRI (0–100)
ZIP 78521
Median home value
—
Gross yield
—
Buy Box score
0.9
Section 8 gap
—
Affordability
P/I: 3.4R/I: 31.4%
Section 8 detail
SAFMR: —Rent: —Gap: —
ZIP code breakdown16 ZIP codes
| ZIP | Median home value | Rent (FMR 2BR) | Gross yield | Buy Box score ↓ | Section 8 gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78520 | — | — | — | 0.9 | — |
| 78521 | — | — | — | 0.9 | — |
| 78526 | — | — | — | 0.9 | — |
| 78578 | — | — | — | 0.8 | — |
| 78550 | — | — | — | 0.7 | — |
| 78593 | — | — | — | 0.5 | — |
| 78586 | — | — | — | 0.5 | — |
| 78552 | — | — | — | 0.5 | — |
| 78559 | — | — | — | 0.4 | — |
| 78583 | — | — | — | 0.3 | — |
| 78566 | — | — | — | 0.3 | — |
| 78575 | — | — | — | 0.1 | — |
| 78597 | — | — | — | 0.0 | — |
| 78535 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 78567 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 78592 | — | — | — | — | — |
Sort by any column. Click a ZIP for detail.
Demographics
Owner-occupied
65.2%
Census ACS
Vacancy rate
14.0%
Census ACS
Bachelor's degree +
20.6%
Census ACS
Rent burdened
44.9%
Census ACS (>30% income)
Median age
32.4
Census ACS
U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
U.S. Census Bureau — Building Permits Survey
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Fair Market Rents / Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR)
Internal Revenue Service — Statistics of Income Migration Data
FEMA — National Risk Index
Last updated: April 16, 2026