Brenham ( BREH-nəm) is a city in east-central Texas, United States, and the county seat of Washington County, with a population of 17,369 according to the 2020 U.S. census. Brenham is also known for its annual German heritage festival that takes place each May called Maifest, similar to Volksfest. Numerous German immigrants settled here in the mid-19th century, following the revolutions in German states in 1848.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Brenham ranks

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#65Shortest commute in TX #46Most trails in TX #37Rent easiest to afford in TX All TX rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code77833, 77834

Area code979

Living in Brenham

Housing in Brenham

$329K▼ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Brenham home is worth about $329,000, down 1.1% in a year, 10% above the Texas typical home.

A buyer's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market84

Sale-to-list95.6%

Sold in May18

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Brenham

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Brenham reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 77% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Brenham 3.2

Texas 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Brenham 17.3

Texas 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Brenham

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About one in 3 of Brenham’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Houston (13%), Austin (7%) and Bryan (2%). Half commute less than 34 miles.

Houston

13%

Austin

Bryan

College Station

36%Work in townlive and work in Brenham 34 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 12,718Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Brenham →

Health in Brenham

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 44% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 61% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Texas

3better than TX·6worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits all close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

15.2%Fewer uninsured adultsTX 19.1% · better 63.5%More adults screened for colon cancerTX 57.9% · better 16%More older adults who have lost all their teethTX 12.5% · worse

Care nearby

Baylor Scott & White Hospital BrenhamBrenham · 0.9 mi · ER

Healthpoint HempsteadHempstead · 20.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Brenham · CMS · HRSAHealth in Brenham →

Natural hazards in Brenham

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 27% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

28Does Brenham flood?paid flood claims since 1979 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Brenham

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Brenham →

Climate in Brenham

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Brenham has warm winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, a January night drops to 41°, and snow is almost unheard of.

64° / 43°Winter

79° / 58°Spring

94° / 73°Summer

81° / 58°Fall

How much snow does Brenham get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 30, with the last in spring around Mar 2.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Brenham →

Schools in Brenham

All Brenham schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Brenham’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 71% of Texas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#194Best public schoolsof 583 in TX

DistrictBRENHAM ISDSchools11

Krause El C+Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 655 students Brenham El B+Elementary · Grades K–4 · 512 students Alton El B+Elementary · Grades K–4 · 460 students First Baptist Church SchoolElementary · Grades PK–6 · 307 students St. Pauls Christian Day SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 233 students Brenham J H A-Middle · Grades 7–8 · 756 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within TX. Ratings are from neighbors.