Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Brownwood, TX Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

18,777

Median Agei

37.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

62.3%11,705

Hispanic/Latino

28.9%5,421

Black

5%947

Two or More

2%379

Other

0.9%172

Asian

0.7%129

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%13

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%11

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

7.4%917

High School Diploma

26.1%3,242

Some College (<1 yr)

7.7%955

Some College (1+ yr)

19%2,359

Associate's Degree

8%997

Bachelor's Degree

13.2%1,639

Master's Degree

4.9%613

Professional Degree

0.4%48

Doctorate

0.5%63

HS or Higher

87.1%

BA or Higher

19%

Graduate+

5.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$144,400

Median Renti

$882

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

54.8%4,052

Renter-Occupied

45.2%3,347

Total Units

8,671

Homeownership

54.8%

Vacancy Rate

14.7%

Rent Distribution

Under $500

516

$500–$750

616

$750–$1,000

951

$1,000–$1,250

523

$1,250–$1,500

247

$1,500–$2,000

118

$2,000+

127

Year Built

2020 or later

1.4%122

2010–2019

4.1%359

2000–2009

3.9%342

1990–1999

5.8%507

1980–1989

14.9%1,290

1970–1979

23.9%2,070

1960–1969

13.5%1,172

1950–1959

12.5%1,083

1940–1949

14.7%1,277

1939 or earlier

5.2%449

Heating Fuel

Electricity

59.8%4,428

Utility Gas

38.1%2,817

No Fuel

1.1%80

Bottled/LP Gas

0.8%59

Solar

0.1%8

Wood

0.1%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$48,981

Mean Household Incomei

$68,733

Per Capita Incomei

$29,291

Poverty Ratei

19.8%

Unemploymenti

4.8%

Labor Forcei

8,959

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

718

Residentsi

1,046

Avg. Tenant Renti

$384/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

10 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing234 homes95% occupied$391/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers433 homes75% occupied$384/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 851 homes92% occupied$358/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $48,981/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $15K/yr

65.8%

Very low income$15K–$24K/yr

29.5%

Low income$24K–$39K/yr

Moderate / aboveOver $39K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

75.5% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

35.7% of subsidized households are minority

29.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

44.2% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

9635.1%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

675

Canada

China

Guatemala

United Kingdom

Germany

Philippines

Workforce

Total Employed

8,490

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

634(4.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

85.1%Insured

14.9%Uninsured