propertytaxbyzip

78520 Property Tax Rate

Brownsville, Texas · Part of Cameron County

ACS 2019-2023 · Updated Dec 2024

Effective Tax Rate

1.64%

32.4% below state avg

Median Annual Tax

$2,117

$176/mo escrow

Estimate Your Tax

$
$50K$2M

Annual Tax

$2,117

Monthly

$176

Eff. Rate

1.64%

vs. Texas Avg32.4% below
vs. National Avg21.3% below

How ZIP 78520 Compares

Median Annual Property Tax

ZIP 78520$2,117
Texas Average$3,131
National Average$2,690

ZIP 78520

1.64%

Effective rate

Texas Avg

1.35%

Effective rate

National Avg

1.10%

Effective rate

State Ranking

Property Tax Rank in Texas

0.23%state avg 1.35%3.49%

Higher than 76% of ZIP codes in Texas(76th percentile, 1,654 ZIPs compared)

Property Tax Analysis

Property Tax Insights for ZIP 78520

Property owners in ZIP code 78520 (Brownsville, Texas) pay a median of $2,117/year in property taxes on homes valued at $129,200. This translates to an effective tax rate of 1.64%, which is 21% above the Texas state average of 1.35%.

The monthly property tax burden for a median-valued home in 78520 is approximately $176, which factors into escrow payments on mortgages. This ZIP code is located within Cameron County. This is $1,014 less than the Texas average of $3,131/year.

Compared to similar ZIP codes in Texas, 78520 has lower property taxes. ZIP codes with similar effective rates include 78626 (1.64%) and 75035 (1.64%).

In Brownsville, property taxes represent approximately 4.5% of the median household income of $47,331, providing context for the relative tax burden on homeowners in this area.

If you're considering purchasing a home in 78520, keep in mind that property taxes are based on the assessed value assigned by the local assessor, which may differ from the purchase price. In some states, properties are reassessed at or near the sale price upon transfer of ownership. For the most current tax information for a specific property, consult Cameron County's tax assessor directly.

Buyer decision brief

What ZIP 78520 means for your housing budget

Use this ZIP page to compare recurring tax burden before you compare listing prices. The numbers below are Census ZCTA estimates, so they are strongest for neighborhood comparison and weakest for parcel-specific tax planning.

Monthly escrow signal

$176/mo

Based on median annual tax paid

State context

0.29 percentage points above the Texas average

Texas average: 1.35%

Data confidence

High confidence

The Census margin of error is $162, about 8% of the median tax estimate.

Verify before you offer

  • Confirm parcel assessed value with Cameron County assessor.
  • Check homestead, senior, veteran, and disability exemptions.
  • Ask whether purchase triggers reassessment or value-cap reset.
  • Review school district and special assessment boundaries.

Lower-rate similar ZIPs

75231Dallas1.63%79532Loraine1.64%78405Corpus Christi1.64%

This is informational content, not tax, legal, or mortgage advice. Local assessor records remain the source of truth for a specific property.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the property tax rate in ZIP code 78520?
The effective property tax rate in ZIP code 78520 (Brownsville, TX) is 1.64%. This rate is calculated by dividing the median annual property tax payment by the median home value within this ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA), based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
How much are property taxes in Brownsville, TX (78520)?
The median annual property tax payment in ZIP code 78520 is $2,117. This figure represents the typical amount paid by homeowners in this area. Actual taxes vary based on your assessed property value and any applicable exemptions.
How does ZIP 78520 compare to the Texas average?
ZIP code 78520's effective tax rate of 1.64% is higher than the Texas state average of 1.35%. The median annual property tax in this ZIP is $2,117, compared to the state average of $3,131.
What is the median home value in ZIP 78520?
The median home value in ZIP code 78520 (Brownsville, TX) is $129,200, according to U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates at the ZCTA level.
What county is ZIP code 78520 in?
ZIP code 78520 is part of Cameron County in Texas. For broader county-level property tax data, including comparisons with other counties in Texas, visit the Cameron County profile on TaxByCounty.

Margin of Error

The median property tax estimate for this ZIP code has a margin of error of ±$162. ZCTA-level data has wider margins than county-level estimates due to smaller sample sizes.

County-Level Data

ZIP code 78520 is part of Cameron County, Texas. View the full county profile for broader context and more data.

View Cameron County on TaxByCounty →

Explore Brownsville, TX

View all 3 ZIP codes in Brownsville with property tax comparisons.

View Brownsville Property Tax Rates →

Similar ZIP Codes in Texas

78626

+0.00%

Georgetown

1.64%

$5,875/yr

75035

+0.00%

Frisco

1.64%

$9,221/yr

78252

-0.00%

San Antonio

1.64%

$3,961/yr

78405

-0.00%

Corpus Christi

1.64%

$1,232/yr

77008

+0.00%

Houston

1.64%

$10,001/yr

79532

-0.00%

Loraine

1.64%

$1,668/yr

78219

+0.00%

San Antonio

1.64%

$2,548/yr

75137

+0.00%

Duncanville

1.64%

$4,283/yr

77083

+0.00%

Houston

1.64%

$3,666/yr

75231

-0.00%

Dallas

1.63%

$7,617/yr

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By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates (ZCTA level). ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census approximations of USPS ZIP codes.

Estimates are informational only and should not be used as financial or legal advice.

Learn about our data sources and methodology →