Real Estate Investing in Port Arthur, Texas (77642)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 38,051 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 77642 (Port Arthur, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: 0.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 27.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Port Arthur, TX (77642)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $126,874
Avg Monthly Rent $1,267
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $42,076
% Renters 48.5%

Market Analysis: 77642 Port Arthur

This part of Jefferson County is not an easy win. The 77642 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,267/mo on a $127K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 77642 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 77642 sits on the difficult end of the TX spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 77642 ZIP's population of 38,051 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. notable returns are possible in 77642, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,267/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)

$135K$122K$110K$97K$85K$72KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,324$1,260$1,197$1,134$1,071$1,007May 2022Jun 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 77642 Compare?

Metric 77642 Port Arthur Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Texas
Home Value $126,874 $126,666 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A 1.0% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,267 $1,259 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.8% 7.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77642? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 49% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 77642 (Port Arthur, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 77642 (Port Arthur, TX)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.8%
Good
5yr Growth
0.0%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $126,874
Monthly Rent $1,267
Price-to-Rent 8.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.0%
Cap Rate 7.8%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR 0.0% ▼
10-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 7.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (7.8%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
14.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
0.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77642

Population: 38,051

💰 Median Household Income
$42,076
This area
$42,076
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
48.5%
This area
48.5%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.9%
This area
10.9%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.9 years
This area
30.9 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 37.2%
White 30.9%
Other/Mixed 24.5%
Hispanic/Latino 21.9%
Asian 7.4%
👶 Under 18
30.7%
This area
30.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.0%
This area
11.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
27.1%
This area
27.1%
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 77642

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$14,985 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

HOUSTON EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
748 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
A Very Good
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

JEFFERSON MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
847 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LAKEVIEW EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
578 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PORT ACRES EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
514 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

STAFF SERGEANT LUCIAN ADAMS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
628 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

TRAVIS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
523 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

TYRRELL EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
699 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
B+ Above Average

TEKOA ACADEMY OF ACCELERATED STUDIES

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,954 Per Student
B Good

MEMORIAL H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,068 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,495 Per Student
C+ Average

BOB HOPE H S

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
551 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$9,960 Per Student
C+ Average

BOB HOPE SCHOOL - EL CAMPUS

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
642 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$9,960 Per Student
C Below Average

STILWELL TECH CTR/CATE

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$16,495 Per Student
C Below Average

BOB HOPE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$9,960 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

4 Nearby 5,826 Off-Campus Students
C
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
3,802 students · 4.1 mi
C+
Lamar University
17,473 students · 11.8 mi
C
Lamar Institute of Technology
5,302 students · 12.2 mi
C+
Barbers Trade School
14 students · 14.7 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 much should I expect to pay for a home in Port Arthur, TX?

Port Arthur, TX median home values land near $127K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,267/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Port Arthur, TX?

Expect elevated vacancy in Port Arthur, TX. Rents at $1,267/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Does Port Arthur, TX favor landlords or tenants?

For rental operators, Port Arthur, TX rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Port Arthur, TX?

Port Arthur, TX offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,267/mo rent level.

What is the typical renter like in Port Arthur, TX?

The renter base in Port Arthur, TX is reasonable for the $1,267/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

You know 77642 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 77642 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 77642 ranks in Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 77642 (Port Arthur)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 77642 (Port Arthur, TX).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.