Real Estate Investing in Port Arthur, Texas (77640)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Jefferson County • Population: 17,480 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 77640 (Port Arthur, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 25.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Port Arthur, TX (77640)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $126,459
Avg Monthly Rent $1,250
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,122
% Renters 32.1%

Market Analysis: 77640 Port Arthur

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Port Arthur's 77640 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $126K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 77640 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

On the rental side, 77640 offers a low basis, the region around Port Arthur has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 77640 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Port Arthur's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 77640. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Port Arthur:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,250/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
62 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.9%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$136K$121K$106K$90K$75K$60KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,411$1,371$1,331$1,291$1,251$1,211Oct 2025Feb 2026May 2026

📊 How Does 77640 Compare?

Metric 77640 Port Arthur Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Texas
Home Value $126,459 $126,666 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 1.0% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,250 $1,259 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.7% 7.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77640? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 77640 (Port Arthur, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.7%
Good
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $126,459
Monthly Rent $1,250
Price-to-Rent 8.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.9%
Cap Rate 7.7%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.7%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
25.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77640

Population: 17,480

💰 Median Household Income
$49,122
This area
$49,122
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.1%
This area
32.1%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.5%
This area
12.5%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.9 years
This area
37.9 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
25.3%
This area
25.3%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 54.7%
White 29.7%
Other/Mixed 12.1%
Hispanic/Latino 11.7%
Asian 3.5%
👶 Under 18
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 77640

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
10.4:1 Avg Class Size
$15,981 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

LINCOLN MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
626 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
A Very Good

DEQUEEN EL

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
220 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
A Very Good

WASHINGTON EL

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
259 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

TEKOA ACADEMY OF ACCELERATED STUDIES

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
58 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,954 Per Student
B Good

PORT ARTHUR ALTERNATIVE CENTER

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
78 Students
👨‍🏫
4.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B Good

TEKOA ACADEMY OF ACCELERATED STUDIES

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
49 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,954 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 5,826 Off-Campus Students
C
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
3,802 students · 0.9 mi
C+
Lamar University
17,473 students · 13.7 mi
C
Lamar Institute of Technology
5,302 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,826 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Port Arthur, TX?

Port Arthur, TX vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How strong is the working-renter base in Port Arthur, TX?

Working renters make up the core of the Port Arthur, TX tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is housing expensive in Port Arthur, TX?

In Port Arthur, TX the median home value sits at $126K. Against the broader TX market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Can I house hack in Port Arthur, TX?

For house hackers, Port Arthur, TX is a challenging. The $1,250/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $126K property.

How landlord-friendly is Port Arthur, TX?

Port Arthur, TX falls under TX landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 77640 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 77640 ranks in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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