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Living in
Baytown.
About
Life in Baytown
If you're considering Baytown, understand that this is an industrial city first—the petrochemical and logistics backbone of the Greater Houston area. That means stable jobs and reasonable housing costs (median home value around $197,000, rent around $1,307/month), but also that industrial activity shapes daily life. Air quality can be affected by nearby refineries and the Houston Ship Channel, and hurricane risk is real here, especially storm surge, since you're closer to Galveston Bay than Houston proper.
Baytown at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.2%
Foreign-Born
20.7%
Broadband Internet
91.6%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Baytown: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Baytown, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (68.3%), and 38.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.6%
of residents
65 and Older
11.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.4%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.73
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Baytown
In Baytown, rent runs 7% below the TX average, and home values are 30% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,175
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $243,842 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.8 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Baytown
Unemployment in Baytown is 2.8 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Baytown Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.4 min avg
How Baytown residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Baytown, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 28 mi
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Major hub23.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 21% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Baytown runs 21% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
399.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,370.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Baytown Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Harris County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Harris County, which includes Baytown, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73.1M |
| 2023 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.3M |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 23 | Flash Flood | $34.1M |
| 2020 | 17 | Hail | $1.2M |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200.6M |
| 2018 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Harris County, county-wide
Baytown is about 2% of Harris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality62 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Harris County, which includes Baytown, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
62
Good Days
40
per year
Moderate Days
287
per year
Unhealthy Days
10
per year
Harris County, county-wide
Baytown is about 2% of Harris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Baytown has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/59°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
84
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
9
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
86
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 41°F | 4.85" |
| Feb | 66°F | 45°F | 3.78" |
| Mar | 72°F | 52°F | 3.94" |
| Apr | 78°F | 59°F | 4.51" |
| May | 84°F | 67°F | 6.01" |
| Jun | 89°F | 73°F | 7.08" |
| Jul | 92°F | 75°F | 5.49" |
| Aug | 92°F | 74°F | 6.82" |
| Sep | 89°F | 69°F | 6.41" |
| Oct | 82°F | 60°F | 6.13" |
| Nov | 71°F | 50°F | 4.94" |
| Dec | 65°F | 44°F | 4.77" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Baytown
Baytown has 2 hospitals, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
27.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital · 4401 Garth Road
- Hospital campus: Houston Methodist San Jacinto Alexander Campus · 1700 James Bowie Dr, Baytown
Baytown Medical Center Lp
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Altus Houston Hospital, Lp
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.4 mi away · Houston
East Houston Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.7 mi away · Houston
Ad Hospital East, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.1 mi away · Houston
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Baytown
Baytown's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
28
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Baytown (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 22,969 students · in-state tuition $2,490 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,048 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Houston-Clear Lake
14.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,078 students · in-state tuition $7,770 · 64% graduate · median earnings $61,521 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Thicket National Preserve, 59 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Baytown
Baytown has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Thicket National Preserve (59 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Thicket National Preserve
National Preserve
59 mi awayPublic Libraries in Baytown
Sterling Municipal Library
1 Wilbanks Ave, Baytown
Cities Near Baytown
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Baytown?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Baytown FAQ
Is Baytown, Texas affordable?⌄
Baytown's median rent is $1,307/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $59,910/year. Median home value is $197,300.
Is Baytown, Texas safe?⌄
Baytown's violent crime rate was 399 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2370 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Baytown, Texas?⌄
Baytown has an unemployment rate of 7.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Baytown, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Baytown is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,307/month and median household income is $59,910/year. The median home value is $197,300. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Baytown, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Baytown is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from