The Town FilesBrownsville, Kentucky
City in Edmonson County · population 875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,000
- Household income
- $35,481
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 38.8
Brownsville is a city of 875 people in Edmonson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $161,000, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 99% of Kentucky towns, better for families than 71% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Kentucky towns.
How Brownsville ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brownsville is worth $161,000, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $35,481, which is more affordable than 7% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $675 a month. 48.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brownsville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $675 | $837 |
| Median household income | $35,481 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.9% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Brownsville
| People | Brownsville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.4% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.2% | 88.6% |
Weather in Brownsville
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.7 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brownsville since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 11, 2021 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 17. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 63 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 23, 2000.
Severe weather in Edmonson County since 1996
Edmonson County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Edmonson County
Edmonson County had 1,681 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,464 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Brownsville itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Brownsville
4 public schools with 1,402 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonson County High School | 9-12 | 576 | 16.9 |
| Kyrock Elementary School | PK-4 | 325 | 13.5 |
| Edmonson County Middle School | 7-8 | 260 | 15.3 |
| Edmonson County 5/6 Center | 5-6 | 241 | 15.1 |
Towns near Brownsville
- Smiths Grove, KY10.5 mi · 752 people · home $164,500
- Park City, KY13.9 mi · 614 people · home $150,000
- Cave City, KY16.9 mi · 2,356 people · home $116,700
- Bowling Green, KY17.7 mi · 72,294 people · home $241,900
- Horse Cave, KY19.2 mi · 2,212 people · home $113,700
- Leitchfield, KY20.2 mi · 6,404 people · home $159,100
- Caneyville, KY20.4 mi · 529 people · home $116,400
- Clarkson, KY20.7 mi · 933 people · home $88,900
Brownsville questions
Is Brownsville, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brownsville scores better for retirees than 42% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 99%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Brownsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Brownsville is valued at $161,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,481, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $675 a month.
What is the weather like in Brownsville?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 4.7 inches of snow.
Does Brownsville get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brownsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 11, 2021. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)