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Living in
Groves.
About
Life in Groves
This compact industrial city of about 17,000 people sits right in the heart of Southeast Texas's refining and petrochemical corridor, which means steady blue-collar and technical work if that's your background, but it also means you're living in an economy built around energy and manufacturing. The median household income sits around $73,710, and you can actually find homes here—median value around $163,600—without the sprawl fatigue of bigger metros; the unemployment rate is reasonable at 5.7%, and most residents keep their commute under 22 minutes. The tradeoff is honest: this is a working-class community first, not a destination, and your cost of living reflects that practicality rather than amenity premiums.
Groves at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Foreign-Born
14.1%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Population Growth
-2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Groves: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Groves, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (48.5%), and 20.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.5%
of residents
65 and Older
15.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.3%
of households
Married Couples
51.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
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 8% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Groves
In Groves, rent runs 8% below the TX average, and home values are 42% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
9.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,724
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $189,020 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Groves
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Groves, is 1.5 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Groves: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Groves Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.8 min avg
How Groves residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Groves, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT)
Regional airport · few flights33k passengers boarded in 2025
- 84 mi
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 85 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 18% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Groves runs 18% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
387.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,306.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Groves Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Groves, the most common type is flash flood, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Astronomical Low Tide | $101,000 |
| 2024 | 30 | Flash Flood | $1.1M |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $78,000 |
| 2022 | 9 | Flash Flood | $131,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Flash Flood | $5.3M |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $123,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Flash Flood | $301.0M |
| 2018 | 11 | Flash Flood | $1.5M |
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
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Groves, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
175
per year
Moderate Days
187
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Climate92°F summers, 46°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Groves has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 46°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/46°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
59.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
93
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
9
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
100
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 44°F | 5.32" |
| Feb | 67°F | 48°F | 3.09" |
| Mar | 73°F | 53°F | 3.63" |
| Apr | 79°F | 60°F | 3.92" |
| May | 86°F | 67°F | 4.70" |
| Jun | 91°F | 73°F | 6.70" |
| Jul | 93°F | 75°F | 6.85" |
| Aug | 93°F | 74°F | 6.89" |
| Sep | 90°F | 71°F | 6.69" |
| Oct | 82°F | 61°F | 5.47" |
| Nov | 72°F | 52°F | 3.89" |
| Dec | 66°F | 46°F | 4.98" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Groves
Uninsured
17.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Groves's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Medical Center of Southeast Texas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Port Arthur
Baptist Beaumont Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Beaumont
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.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Groves
Groves's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 14.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Groves (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,150 students · in-state tuition $8,905 · 46% graduate · median earnings $53,857 (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, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Groves
Groves has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Thicket National Preserve (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Thicket National Preserve
National Preserve
45 mi awayPublic Libraries in Groves
Groves Public Library
5600 W Washington St, Groves
Cities Near Groves
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Groves?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Groves FAQ
Is Groves, Texas affordable?⌄
Groves's median rent is $1,286/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,710/year. Median home value is $163,600.
Is Groves, Texas safe?⌄
Groves's violent crime rate was 388 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1307 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Groves, Texas?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Groves, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Groves, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Groves is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,286/month and median household income is $73,710/year. The median home value is $163,600. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Groves, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Groves is 21 minutes, which is shorter than 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