Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Port Arthur, TX Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

55,828

Median Agei

35.5

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

41.9%23,369

Hispanic/Latino

36.4%20,348

White

15.8%8,835

Asian

4.5%2,492

Two or More

1.3%726

Other

0.1%36

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%22

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.1%1,432

High School Diploma

31.4%11,074

Some College (<1 yr)

6%2,131

Some College (1+ yr)

14.6%5,153

Associate's Degree

9.7%3,425

Bachelor's Degree

8.8%3,097

Master's Degree

3%1,056

Professional Degree

0.5%190

Doctorate

0.5%159

HS or Higher

78.6%

BA or Higher

12.8%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$107,400

Median Renti

$1,021

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

58%12,552

Renter-Occupied

42%9,078

Total Units

25,631

Homeownership

58%

Vacancy Rate

15.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

17.1%2,144

$50K–$100K

29.7%3,723

$100K–$150K

17.6%2,205

$150K–$200K

12.6%1,576

$200K–$300K

12.7%1,598

$300K–$500K

7.9%992

$500K–$1M

2%252

$1M+

0.5%62

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,771

$500–$750

858

$750–$1,000

1,277

$1,000–$1,250

1,616

$1,250–$1,500

1,522

$1,500–$2,000

792

$2,000+

247

Year Built

2020 or later

1.4%352

2010–2019

13.8%3,546

2000–2009

14.8%3,781

1990–1999

5.1%1,305

1980–1989

7.7%1,977

1970–1979

16.7%4,282

1960–1969

20.6%5,268

1950–1959

12.8%3,273

1940–1949

2.7%688

1939 or earlier

4.5%1,159

Heating Fuel

Electricity

58.2%12,599

Utility Gas

38.9%8,410

No Fuel

1.7%369

Bottled/LP Gas

0.7%148

Fuel Oil

0.2%44

Solar

0.2%42

Other

0.1%18

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$46,354

Mean Household Incomei

$66,283

Per Capita Incomei

$26,496

Poverty Ratei

28.5%

Unemploymenti

8.3%

Labor Forcei

22,393

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

11.1%2,405

$10K–$15K

8.6%1,851

$15K–$20K

6.9%1,488

$20K–$25K

5%1,086

$25K–$30K

3.9%851

$30K–$35K

3.7%802

$35K–$40K

4.8%1,048

$40K–$45K

4.9%1,057

$45K–$50K

3.1%668

$50K–$60K

9.9%2,151

$60K–$75K

8.8%1,898

$75K–$100K

9.4%2,036

$100K–$125K

8.4%1,826

$125K–$150K

3.9%841

$150K–$200K

3.3%715

$200K+

4.2%907

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

3,312

Residentsi

5,574

Avg. Tenant Renti

$327/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

19 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers1,079 homes91% occupied$432/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 81,929 homes91% occupied$269/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $46,354/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $14K/yr

80.1%

Very low income$14K–$23K/yr

16.5%

Low income$23K–$37K/yr

Moderate / aboveOver $37K/yr

0.4%

Who Receives This Housing

74.8% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

79.9% of subsidized households are minority

21.4% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

30.9% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

11,33720.3%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

6,629

India

353

Philippines

139

Guatemala

Germany

China

United Kingdom

Korea

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

20,026

Avg. Commutei

23.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

20,430

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,958(4.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

70.5%Insured

29.5%Uninsured