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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Port Lavaca Micro

Port Lavaca, TX · 1 counties · 19,599 residents (2025 est.) · 506.931 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#25Lowest poverty rateof 9257.7%
The short version

Port Lavaca has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $79,959. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $171,200. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 83%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,868
−4%since 2000
from 20,647 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
39 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 41 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.4
+17%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,599 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
19K20K20K21K22K1990201020202024Port Lavaca
202420K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$79,959
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,849 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,362
+159%since 2000
from $17,125 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.4%
+28.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.7%
−8.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
−1%since 2010
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Information8.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$171,200
+83%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$891
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.3%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
22.7% rent
Vacancy rate
20.0%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.2%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.7%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+49%since 2000
from 1.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
74
RELATED:See current rent listings in Port Lavaca on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.2%(10,774)
Black2.5%(521)
Hispanic / Latino40.9%(8,448)
Asian3.2%(665)
Other0%
Diversity Score68.5%(14,149)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic40.8%(8,111)
Black2.6%(517)
Hispanic / Latino49.4%(9,821)
Asian4.1%(824)
Other3%(595)
Diversity Score73.2%(14,546)
Segregation Score38.7%(7,691)
Diversity Score
73
+7%since 2000
from 69 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
39
+21%since 2020
from 32 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.1%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.4%
+16.3 ptssince 2000
from 69.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.4 min
+47%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 77.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.4%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% 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
5.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
+5.0 ptssince 2011
from 61.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.3%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
47.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
9.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−40.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 19.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−74.4 ptssince 2013
from 81.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.0%
+10.8 ptssince 2017
from 75.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
72.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 71.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
22.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 23.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Port LavacaCENTRAL11,060
What's inside

1 component county

Calhoun CountyCENTRAL19,599
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Port Lavaca

Pierre
Pop 20,588
Carroll
Pop 20,303
Bishop
Pop 18,158
Andrews
Pop 18,914
Places similar to Port Lavaca
Head to head

Compare Port Lavaca side by side

PORT LAVACA VS
Pierre
Income$82,316+3%
Home value$236,387+38%
Population20,588+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORT LAVACA VS
Carroll
Income$72,930−9%
Home value$176,000+3%
Population20,303+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORT LAVACA VS
Bishop
Income$73,991−7%
Home value$348,700+104%
Population18,158−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORT LAVACA VS
Andrews
Income$72,242−10%
Home value$195,700+14%
Population18,914−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Port Lavaca, TX?

Port Lavaca, TX has about 19,868 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Port Lavaca, TX?

The typical household in Port Lavaca, TX earns about $79,959 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Port Lavaca, TX expensive?

In Port Lavaca, TX, the median home is worth about $171,200, and the typical rent is about $891 a month.

How educated are people in Port Lavaca, TX?

About 20.1% of adults age 25 and over in Port Lavaca, TX hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Port Lavaca, TX?

About 7.7% of people in Port Lavaca, TX live below the federal poverty line.

Has Port Lavaca, TX grown since 1990?

Yes, Port Lavaca, TX has grown since 1990. The population has added about 815 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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