The Town FilesBrenham, Texas
City in Washington County · population 17,369 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,100
- Household income
- $65,112
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 33.8
Brenham is a city of 17,369 people in Washington County, Texas. The median home is worth $241,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 95% of Texas towns, better for cycling than 92% of Texas towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Texas towns.
How Brenham ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brenham is worth $241,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $65,112, which is more affordable than 22% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,157 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brenham | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,157 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $65,112 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Brenham
| People | Brenham | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Brenham
July highs average 93.7°F and January lows 39.6°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 112 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brenham since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1950 about 1.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 25, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 20, 1957.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 16,646 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,773 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Brenham itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Brenham
8 public schools with 4,901 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRENHAM H S | 9-12 | 1,560 | 13.0 |
| BRENHAM J H | 7-8 | 744 | 12.2 |
| BRENHAM MIDDLE | 5-6 | 712 | 13.4 |
| KRAUSE EL | PK-4 | 658 | 13.7 |
| BRENHAM EL | K-4 | 536 | 13.4 |
| ALTON EL | K-4 | 461 | 13.6 |
| BRENHAM EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 194 | 14.9 |
| TRINITY CHARTER SCHOOL - BRENHAM CAMPUS (charter) | 6-12 | 36 | 7.2 |
Towns near Brenham
- Bellville, TX16.7 mi · 4,206 people · home $284,400
- Hempstead, TX19.5 mi · 5,430 people · home $160,700
- Navasota, TX24.1 mi · 7,643 people · home $208,100
- Prairie View, TX25.5 mi · 8,184 people · home $167,600
- Waller, TX28.4 mi · 2,682 people · home $156,900
Brenham questions
Is Brenham, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brenham scores better for retirees than 78% of Texas towns and quieter than 31%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Brenham?
The median owner-occupied home in Brenham is valued at $241,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,112, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,157 a month.
What is the weather like in Brenham?
July highs average 93.7°F and January lows 39.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Brenham get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brenham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1950. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)