HUD FY2026 · ACS 2019–2023 generous bottom-quartile

Low-FMR metro gap - Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA

Displayed gap in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA: +21.0% (HUD $1,047 vs ACS $865) · counties in FMR rows: Cameron County .

FMR gap dispatch plate

CBSA 15180 · Brownsville-Harlingen, TX -21.0% shortfall

GAP-GENEROUS · FMR-BOTTOM · SPREAD-PLUS · PHOTO-FINISH · COUNTY-SPARSE · BOOK-FULL

  • GAP-GENEROUS 21.0% surplus
  • FMR-BOTTOM #52/396 · P13
  • SPREAD-PLUS +$182
  • PHOTO-FINISH Saginaw
  • COUNTY-SPARSE 1 county
  • BOOK-FULL HUD+ACS pair

Nearest shortfall peer: Saginaw, MI Metro Area (+0.0pp)

HUD's reference overshoots the ACS median by $182/mo. Lease-up odds are usually better than in shortfall markets, though still compare Saginaw, MI Metro Area before assuming portability helps.

Instrument codes from this metro’s HUD FMR vs ACS shortfall band, national FMR quartile, dollar spread, gap peer, county footprint, and book completeness, not a moving recommendation.

Shortfall neighbourhood around Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Metros nearest this CBSA on voucher-vs-market shortfall (HUD FMR vs ACS 2-BR median). Full ladder: /gap/.

% shortfall
Source HUD USER FMR + Census ACS median gross rent As of 2026-08-25

How does Brownsville-Harlingen, TX compare with nearby FMR areas?

These are the twelve metros closest to Brownsville-Harlingen, TX on the displayed voucher-vs-market margin. Their county lists are HUD FMR-area coverage, not a claim that the markets are interchangeable.

  1. Saginaw, MI Metro Area

    -21.0% shortfall · HUD $1,117 vs ACS $923 · $+$194/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Saginaw County.

  2. Richmond, VA Metro Area

    -21.1% shortfall · HUD $1,655 vs ACS $1,367 · $+$288/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Amelia County, Charles City County, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights city, Dinwiddie County, Goochland County.

  3. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV Metro Area

    -21.0% shortfall · HUD $1,735 vs ACS $1,434 · $+$301/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Clark County.

  4. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area

    -21.1% shortfall · HUD $1,810 vs ACS $1,494 · $+$316/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Bucks County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cecil County, Chester County, Delaware County.

  5. St. Joseph, MO-KS Metro Area

    -21.1% shortfall · HUD $1,077 vs ACS $889 · $+$188/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Andrew County, Buchanan County, DeKalb County, Doniphan County.

  6. El Paso, TX Metro Area

    -20.9% shortfall · HUD $1,191 vs ACS $985 · $+$206/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: El Paso County.

  7. Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area

    -20.9% shortfall · HUD $1,272 vs ACS $1,052 · $+$220/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Bourbon County, Clark County, Fayette County, Jessamine County, Scott County, Woodford County.

  8. Rochester, MN Metro Area

    -21.2% shortfall · HUD $1,407 vs ACS $1,161 · $+$246/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Dodge County, Olmsted County.

  9. Decatur, AL Metro Area

    -20.9% shortfall · HUD $961 vs ACS $795 · $+$166/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Lawrence County, Morgan County.

  10. Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area

    -21.2% shortfall · HUD $1,000 vs ACS $825 · $+$175/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Colbert County, Lauderdale County.

  11. Wichita Falls, TX Metro Area

    -21.2% shortfall · HUD $1,136 vs ACS $937 · $+$199/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Archer County, Clay County, Wichita County.

  12. Sandusky, OH Metro Area

    -21.3% shortfall · HUD $1,106 vs ACS $912 · $+$194/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Erie County.

Source: HUD USER FY2026 Fair Market Rent area records and Census ACS 2019–2023 median gross rent.

TX FMR scale context

These are the closest FY2026 2-BR FMR values in TX; they help place this HUD reference on its state scale, but do not substitute for each metro’s ACS rent comparison.

  1. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA $1,060 (+$13)
  2. Austin County, TX HUD Metro FMR Area $1,095 (+$48)
  3. Atascosa County, TX HUD Metro FMR Area $1,098 (+$51)
  4. Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA $1,103 (+$56)
  5. Amarillo, TX HUD Metro FMR Area $1,106 (+$59)
  6. Bosque County, TX HUD Metro FMR Area $973 (−$74)
  7. Cochran County, TX HUD Metro FMR Area $973 (−$74)
  8. Eagle Pass, TX MSA $973 (−$74)
  9. Wichita Falls, TX MSA $1,136 (+$89)
  10. Laredo, TX MSA $1,161 (+$114)

High-FMR contrast (scale only)

Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT MSA ($2,511 2-BR); Burlington-South Burlington, VT MSA ($2,140 2-BR); Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA MSA ($2,031 2-BR); Bozeman, MT MSA ($2,154 2-BR) . Opposite-quartile FMR metros for scale, not gap substitutes for Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA.

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA gap inputs

  • HUD 2-BR FMR (FY2026): $1,047/mo
  • ACS 2019–2023 2-BR median: $865/mo
  • Displayed gap: +21.0%
  • National FMR percentile: 13 (#52/396)

displayed % = (HUD 2-BR − ACS 2-BR median) / ACS median × 100

TX HCV agencies (scale-keyed)

Full payment standards for Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA · Payment standards vs FMR

Source: HUD USER Fair Market Rent FY2026, Census ACS median gross rent. Gap is PlainVoucher-derived. Methodology.

Disclaimer. For informational purposes only, not a substitute for PHA counseling or legal advice. Median gross rent reflects rents paid by current tenants; asking rents for available units typically run higher. Actual PHA payment standards can differ from HUD FMR by ±10%. Always confirm the current payment standard with your PHA. PlainVoucher is not affiliated with HUD or any PHA.

Verify with HUD → · Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Source and method. PlainVoucher compiles public HUD and U.S. Census release data into a searchable reference. Release periods and source boundaries are identified on each data surface; PlainVoucher does not determine eligibility, waitlist status, payment standards, or local PHA rules. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy, methodology, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-25.