The Town FilesPort Lavaca, Texas
City in Calhoun County · population 11,557 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,200
- Household income
- $70,123
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 35.5
Port Lavaca is a city of 11,557 people in Calhoun County, Texas. The median home is worth $128,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more seaside character than 100% of Texas towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 86% of Texas towns.
How Port Lavaca ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Port Lavaca is worth $128,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $70,123, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $849 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Lavaca | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,200 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $849 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $70,123 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Port Lavaca
| People | Port Lavaca | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Port Lavaca
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 45.7°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 77 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 5 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Lavaca since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 29, 1972 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 29, 1990.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 14,078 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,793 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Port Lavaca itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Public schools in Port Lavaca
5 public schools with 3,254 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALHOUN H S | 9-12 | 995 | 12.8 |
| JACKSON/ROOSEVELT EL | PK-5 | 842 | 16.2 |
| TRAVIS MIDDLE | 6-8 | 695 | 14.8 |
| HARRISON/JEFFERSON/MADISON EL | PK-5 | 692 | 15.0 |
| HOPE H S | 9-12 | 30 | 6.0 |
Towns near Port Lavaca
- Inez, TX20.4 mi · 2,641 people · home $236,500
- Edna, TX24.7 mi · 5,987 people · home $117,800
- Palacios, TX25.1 mi · 4,395 people · home $153,800
- Victoria, TX26.1 mi · 65,534 people · home $207,100
Port Lavaca questions
Is Port Lavaca, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Lavaca scores better for retirees than 31% of Texas towns and quieter than 21%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Port Lavaca?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Lavaca is valued at $128,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,123, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $849 a month.
What is the weather like in Port Lavaca?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 45.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Port Lavaca get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Lavaca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 29, 1972. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)