Port Lavaca, Texas Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Port Lavaca, Texas had a total population of 11,358, the 246th largest city in Texas, with a median household income of $70,123, which is 11% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.2%.
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
- Unemployment rate of 10.5% is notably above the national average.
Port Lavaca Quick Facts
How Port Lavaca Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,147 | 11,358 | -6.5% |
| Median household income | $71,071 | $70,123 | No clear change (-1.3%) |
| Median home value¹ | $131,193 | $128,200 | No clear change (-2.3%) |
| Median gross rent | $836 | $849 | No clear change (+1.6%) |
How Port Lavaca Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 25.2%
- Black: 4.2%
- Hispanic: 62.7%
- Asian: 7.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 67 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 21.5%
- HS Diploma: 31.8%
- Some College: 18.4%
- Associate's: 8.6%
- Bachelor's: 10.0%
- Graduate+: 9.7%
Port Lavaca Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Calhoun County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seadrift | 1,239 | $48,655 | 0.7% | $207,000 |
| Port O'Connor | 620 | $95,593 | 0.2% | $415,300 |
| Point Comfort | 304 | $142,500 | 7.6% | $251,600 |
| Magnolia Beach | 97 | N/A | 0.0% | $271,100 |
| Alamo Beach | 90 | $92,917 | 4.4% | $107,600 |
Cities Similar to Port Lavaca
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg | 11,419 | $64,534 | $460,300 | 43.3% | 9.2% |
| Burkburnett | 11,059 | $66,308 | $151,900 | 22.8% | 16.7% |
| Clute | 10,715 | $70,208 | $271,700 | 15.0% | 10.4% |
| Pleasanton | 11,011 | $65,034 | $204,300 | 21.2% | 12.6% |
| Four Corners | 11,692 | $76,452 | $277,000 | 35.9% | 8.3% |
Population Overview
Port Lavaca is a small city located in Texas, within Calhoun County. The total population is 11,358. It ranks as the 246th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Port Lavaca is 35.5 years. This is about the same as the state median of 35.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Port Lavaca is $70,123. This is 11% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.2%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 10.5%. This is 100% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $128,200. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Port Lavaca is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Port Lavaca is Hispanic or Latino, making up 62.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 25.2%. The Black or African American population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (62.7% vs 39.7%).
Education
19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 78.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Port Lavaca, Texas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Texas city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Port Lavaca, Texas?
Port Lavaca, Texas has a population of 11,358 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Port Lavaca, TX?
The median household income in Port Lavaca is $70,123, which is 13% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Port Lavaca, TX?
The poverty rate in Port Lavaca is 10.2%. This means approximately 1,135 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Port Lavaca, Texas?
Port Lavaca's population is 25.2% White, 4.2% Black, 62.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 7.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Port Lavaca, TX?
The median home value in Port Lavaca is $128,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Port Lavaca, Texas?
19.7% of adults (25+) in Port Lavaca hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.