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Living in
Port Lavaca.
About
Life in Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca is a community of 11,410 people in Texas. The median household income is $70,123, median rent runs about $849 per month, and median home values are around $128,000. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Port Lavaca at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Foreign-Born
13.3%
Broadband Internet
85.7%
of households
Population Growth
-4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Port Lavaca: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Port Lavaca, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (43.9%), and 33.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.9%
of households
Married Couples
50.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
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 39% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Port Lavaca
In Port Lavaca, rent runs 39% below the TX average, and home values are 55% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,908
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $185,020 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below TX average
Unemployment in Port Lavaca
Unemployment in Calhoun County, which includes Port Lavaca, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Port Lavaca: Calhoun County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Calhoun County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Port Lavaca Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.9 min avg
How Port Lavaca residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Port Lavaca, most residents drive alone to work (85%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Victoria Regional Airport (VCT)
Regional airport · few flights14k passengers boarded in 2025
- 108 mi
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 122 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 8% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Port Lavaca runs 8% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
302.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
524.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Port Lavaca Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
66.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Calhoun County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Calhoun County, which includes Port Lavaca, the most common type is drought, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Frost/Freeze | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $363,750 |
| 2023 | 27 | Heat | $75,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 11 | Ice Storm | $376,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Drought | $100,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
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.
21 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Calhoun County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Victoria County, TX (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Port Lavaca) is typically good — 312 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
312
per year
Moderate Days
48
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Victoria County, TX (24 mi away)
Climate91°F summers, 48°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Port Lavaca has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and warm winters (avg low 48°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/63°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/78°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/48°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
77
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
5
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
87
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 46°F | 3.11" |
| Feb | 68°F | 49°F | 1.84" |
| Mar | 73°F | 57°F | 3.20" |
| Apr | 78°F | 63°F | 2.61" |
| May | 84°F | 71°F | 4.25" |
| Jun | 89°F | 76°F | 4.85" |
| Jul | 91°F | 78°F | 3.15" |
| Aug | 92°F | 78°F | 3.42" |
| Sep | 89°F | 73°F | 4.82" |
| Oct | 83°F | 65°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 74°F | 55°F | 3.57" |
| Dec | 67°F | 48°F | 2.92" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Memorial Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Memorial Medical Center · 701 N Virginia St
- Hospital campus: Memorial Medical Center · 815 N Virginia St, Port Lavaca
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.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Port Lavaca
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Port Lavaca
Calhoun County Public Library
200 W Mahan St, Port Lavaca
Cities Near Port Lavaca
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Port Lavaca?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Port Lavaca FAQ
Is Port Lavaca, Texas affordable?⌄
Port Lavaca's median rent is $849/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $70,123/year. Median home value is $128,200.
Is Port Lavaca, Texas safe?⌄
Port Lavaca's violent crime rate was 302 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 525 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Port Lavaca, Texas?⌄
Calhoun County, which includes Port Lavaca, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Port Lavaca, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Port Lavaca is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $849/month and median household income is $70,123/year. The median home value is $128,200. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Port Lavaca, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Port Lavaca is 19 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