© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Port Neches.
About
Life in Port Neches
Living here means settling into a stable, family-oriented community of about 13,700 people where you're not fighting urban sprawl but still have genuine access to jobs and amenities. The median household income sits around $82,000, and homes average $253,000 with rent near $1,100 a month—genuinely affordable compared to most Texas metros, though you're paying for that stability. Your commute to work averages just 17 minutes, which is the kind of quality-of-life win that locals actually value, especially if you're working in the broader Beaumont–Port Arthur region.
Port Neches at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Foreign-Born
6.5%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Port Neches: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Port Neches, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (33.3%), and 6.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.6%
of households
Married Couples
52.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.50
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 22% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Port Neches
In Port Neches, rent runs 22% below the TX average, and home values are 11% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,046
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $247,428 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Port Neches
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Port Neches, is 1.5 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Port Neches: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Port Neches Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.1 min avg
How Port Neches residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Port Neches, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT)
Regional airport · few flights33k passengers boarded in 2025
- 82 mi
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 83 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 38% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Port Neches runs 38% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
204.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
874.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Port Neches 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 Port Neches, 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 Port Neches, 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
Port Neches 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
62.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
93
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
9
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
108
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 Port Neches
Uninsured
11.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Port Neches's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Medical Center of Southeast Texas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Port Arthur
Baptist Beaumont Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.2 mi away · Beaumont
Christus Southeast Texas- St Elizabeth
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 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.
Education13.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Port Neches
Port Neches's student/teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Port Neches (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, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Port Neches
Port Neches has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Thicket National Preserve (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Thicket National Preserve
National Preserve
42 mi awayPublic Libraries in Port Neches
Effie & Wilton Hebert Public Library
2025 Merriman St, Port Neches
Cities Near Port Neches
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Port Neches?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Port Neches FAQ
Is Port Neches, Texas affordable?⌄
Port Neches's median rent is $1,095/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $81,637/year. Median home value is $253,200.
Is Port Neches, Texas safe?⌄
Port Neches's violent crime rate was 204 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 875 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Port Neches, Texas?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Port Neches, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Port Neches, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Port Neches is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,095/month and median household income is $81,637/year. The median home value is $253,200. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Port Neches, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Port Neches is 18 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