Brazos County, TX Local Data & Statistics

State: TX

Total population: 242,311 Household income: $58,553 Rent: $1,193

Overview

Total population

242,311

Rent

$1,193

Year built

1997

Household income

$58,553

Per capita income

$34,320

Poverty rate

24.3%

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

57.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

Total population

242,311

Adults over 25

129,071

Total households

91,087

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$58,553

Per capita income

$34,320

Poverty rate

24.3%

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Rent over 30% of income

57.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,193

Year built

1997

Households that rent

53.2%

Households that own

46.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

63.2%

Black

10.5%

Asian

Two or more races

14.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

27.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

72.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

89.3%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

10.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

26.8%

High school graduate or GED

21.2%

Some college or associate degree

Bachelor’s degree or higher

43%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Brazos County, TX with: College Station Metro Area, TX Texas United States

Brazos County, TX

Total population242,311

Rent$1,193

Year built1997

Household income$58,553

Per capita income$34,320

Poverty rate24.3%

Unemployment rate2.8%

College Station Metro Area, TX

Total population278,335

Rent$1,178

Year built1996

Household income$60,087

Per capita income$34,582

Poverty rate22.7%

Unemployment rate3.5%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyBrazos County, TX	Metro AreaCollege Station Metro Area, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	242,311	278,335	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,193	$1,178	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1997	1996	1992	1980
Household income	$58,553	$60,087	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$34,320	$34,582	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	24.3%	22.7%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.8%	3.5%	4.1%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Brazos County, TX

Brazos County is located in Texas .

Rent & Income

In Brazos County, the monthly rent is $1,193 and household income is $58,553. Rent is lower than both Texas and the U.S., and household income is lower than both Texas and the U.S. The poverty rate is 24.3%, which is higher than both Texas and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 53.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 57.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 43% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is lower than both Texas and the national rate.

Brazos County, TX — Rent vs Household Income

Brazos County, TX — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Brazos County, TX (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,193 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Brazos County, TX

Annual Household Income: $58,553

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Brazos County, TX

Estimated Rate: 24.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Brazos County, TX

In Brazos County, TX, households that rent: 48,421 (53.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	48,421	53.2%
Owner-Occupied	42,666	46.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Brazos County, TX

In Brazos County, TX, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 27,972 (57.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	27,972	57.8%
Other renter households	20,449	42.2%
Total renter households	48,421	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Brazos County, TX

Less than High School: 34,590 people (26.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 27,303 people (21.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 11,666 people (9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 55,512 people (43%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 129,071

📊 Unemployment Rate in Brazos County, TX

Estimated Rate: 2.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.