Port Arthur, TX
Census place 4858820 · pop 55,828
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
40.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
26.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
45.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
29.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
12.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
19.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.52 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$46,354 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
53 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
98/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
8 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.42% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
58.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+1.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,331/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$107,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Port Arthur: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Port Arthur, TX a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Port Arthur scores 29/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is physical inactivity. Texas overall ranks #38 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Port Arthur, TX expensive to live in?
- Port Arthur has a median home value of $107,400 and typical rent around $1,331/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Port Arthur, TX?
- Its weakest measured area is physical inactivity (40.5%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Port Arthur, TX best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($107,400) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Birthplace of singer Janis Joplin and a major Gulf Coast oil-refining hub.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.