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CITY

Port Isabel

Texas · 5,302 residents (2025 est.) · 6.787 sq mi
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Part of the Brownsville metro area
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#161Shortest commutesof 6,82613.7
The short version

Port Isabel has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $32,222. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $182,600. The poverty rate of 34.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 59% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 88%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,111
+5%since 2000
from 4,865 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
753 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 717 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.8
+17%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,302 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K5K5K6K6K1990201020202024Port Isabel
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,222
−30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,323 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,722
+156%since 2000
from $11,239 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.5%
+23.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
34.2%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 27.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.540
+8%since 2010
from 0.499 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services10.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information5.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration0.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$182,600
+88%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$748
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $405 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 59.7% in 2000
40.0% rent
Vacancy rate
22.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.2%
−7.5 ptssince 2009
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.7
+170%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Port Isabel on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic24.5%(1,190)
Black0.3%(16)
Hispanic / Latino74.4%(3,619)
Asian0.2%(11)
Other0%
Diversity Score47.4%(2,307)
2024
White, non-Hispanic18.6%(952)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino79%(4,039)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.3%(120)
Diversity Score42.5%(2,174)
Diversity Score
43
−10%since 2000
from 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.8%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
72.0%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 59.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.7 min
+21%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 67.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
21.0%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.6%
−16.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.8%
+6.5 ptssince 2011
from 55.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.6%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.3%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Female
53.7%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Foreign born
27.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.4%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
5.6%
−11.6 ptssince 2012
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
43.4%
−17.4 ptssince 2013
from 60.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.7%
+20.0 ptssince 2017
from 57.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
38.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 38.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
60.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 60.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Port Isabel to nearby cities

PORT ISABEL VS
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Income$52,130+62%
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PORT ISABEL VS
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PORT ISABEL VS
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PORT ISABEL VS
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Income$53,645+66%
Home value$140,600−23%
Population72,467+1267%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Port Isabel, Texas?

Port Isabel, Texas has about 5,111 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Port Isabel, Texas?

The typical household in Port Isabel, Texas earns about $32,222 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Port Isabel, Texas expensive?

In Port Isabel, Texas, the median home is worth about $182,600, and the typical rent is about $748 a month.

How educated are people in Port Isabel, Texas?

About 17.8% of adults age 25 and over in Port Isabel, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Port Isabel, Texas?

About 34.2% of people in Port Isabel, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Port Isabel, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Port Isabel, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 644 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Port Isabel, Texas: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy