In Port Lavaca, a typical home is worth $128,200 and typical rent is $849 a month. Compared with all of Calhoun County, the typical home value is 25% lower, typical household income is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $180,815 to $185,020.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Port Lavaca is in Calhoun County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Calhoun County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical home in Port Lavaca is worth $128,200,25% less than in Calhoun County as a whole ($171,200).
2
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Port Lavaca rose 1.6%; in Texas, it fell 1.4%.
3
Port Lavaca has the 29th lowest typical rent of the 413 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($849).
4
70% of households in Port Lavaca own their home, against 77% in Calhoun County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Port Lavaca
What homes there are in Port Lavaca, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Port Lavaca and its comparisons
Measure
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Texas
United States
Detached house
68%
73%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
13%
8%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
21%
19%
Mobile home
9%
13%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Port Lavaca (68%), but less so than in Calhoun County (73%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Texas
United States
Year built: Port Lavaca and its comparisons
Measure
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
28%
21%
12%
26%
1960–1979
38%
32%
21%
24%
1980–1999
22%
23%
28%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
12%
18%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
13%
21%
11%
Homes in Port Lavaca are older: the typical year built is 1972; in Calhoun County, 1978.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K37%
$100K–$200K35%
$200K–$300K13%
$300K–$500K12%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Port Lavaca and its comparisons
Measure
Port Lavaca
Under $100K
37%
$100K–$200K
35%
$200K–$300K
13%
$300K–$500K
12%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
At least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Port Lavaca are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Calhoun County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99950%
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Port Lavaca and its comparisons
Measure
Port Lavaca
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
50%
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,326 a month
Calhoun County: $1,462 a month
Without a mortgage
$515 a month
Calhoun County: $538 a month
Owners with a mortgage
43%
Calhoun County: 47%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Port Lavaca is $1,326 a month, less than in Calhoun County ($1,462); without one, $515.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Port LavacaNo clear change
Calhoun County+42%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Port Lavaca+25%
Calhoun CountyNo clear change
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Port LavacaNo clear change
Calhoun County+36%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Port Lavaca and its comparisons
Measure
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
No clear change
+42%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
+25%
No clear change
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+36%
+27%
+29%
The typical home value in Port Lavaca stayed about the same since 2015–2019: the Census sees no clear change.
The typical rent in Port Lavaca rose 25% over the same time.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Port Lavaca and its comparisons
Measure
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.23
2.26
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
85%
82%
71%
69%
Carpool
11%
10%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
5%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Calhoun County, a household in Port Lavaca has 2.23 people on average.
In Port Lavaca, 85% of workers drive alone to work; in Calhoun County, 82%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Port Lavaca?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Port Lavaca, worth $128,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 19% of the typical household income in Port Lavaca, which is $70,123 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Calhoun County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Port Lavaca. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,487 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,122
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$125,878
Total interest
$181,109
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,165 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,636 a month
Your payment · 19%
Tight
$1,636 to $2,104 a month
Hard
more than $2,104 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Port Lavaca ($70,123 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$853
Property tax
$159
Home insurance
$53
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$57
You need at least $4,487 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,122; principal and interest $853.
The city and its county
Port Lavaca and Calhoun County
Port Lavaca is in Calhoun County, Texas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Port Lavaca
Map of Calhoun County, Texas, with Port Lavaca marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Other cities with a page
Port Lavaca's own numbers
Typical home value
$128,200
Typical monthly rent
$849
Typical yearly household income
$70,123
Households that own their home
70%
Effective property tax rate
1.49%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Calhoun County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+43%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
20%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Calhoun County.
A typical home in Port Lavaca is worth $128,200: 25% below the county and 55% below Texas. With the typical household income in Port Lavaca ($70,123 a year), a typical home costs 1.8 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Port Lavaca1.8 years
Calhoun2.1 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Calhoun County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Calhoun County rose 69% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Calhoun County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Calhoun County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +5.3% +5.3% 2016
2017: +4.7% +4.7% 2017
2018: +4.8% +4.8% 2018
2019: +3.5% +3.5% 2019
2020: −1.1% −1.1% 2020
2021: +14.3% +14.3% 2021
2022: +6.5% +6.5% 2022
2023: +2.7% +2.7% 2023
2024: +8.9% +8.9% 2024
2025: +4.7% +4.7% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Calhoun County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.7%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+43%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+69%
+88%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Port Lavaca next to Calhoun County, Texas and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Port Lavaca$128,200
Calhoun$171,200
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Port Lavaca$849
Calhoun$891
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Port Lavaca$70,123
Calhoun$79,959
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Port Lavaca next to Calhoun County and Texas
Measure
Port Lavaca
Calhoun County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$128,200 ▼25% below the county
$171,200
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$849 ▼5% below the county
$891
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$70,123 ▼12% below the county
$79,959
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
70% ▼7 points below the county
77%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,908 ▼11% below the county
$2,153
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.49% ▲0.23 points above the county
1.26%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
45% ▼11 points below the county
56%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Calhoun County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Port Lavaca
For a typical $128,200 home in Port Lavaca, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Port Lavaca's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,122a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,487
Cash to close
$8,333
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $57
Conventional, 5% down$1,099a month
Down payment
$6,410
Cash to close
$10,256
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $61
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$907a month
Down payment
$25,640
Cash to close
$29,486
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,026a month
Down payment
$19,230
Cash to close
$23,076
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Port Lavaca
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,122
$4,487
$125,878
7.18%
FHA MIP · $57
$8,333
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,099
$6,410
$121,790
7.18%
PMI · $61
$10,256
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$907
$25,640
$102,560
7.18%
None
$29,486
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,026
$19,230
$108,970
8.18%
None
$23,076
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Port Lavaca is $849 a month: 5% below the county. In Port Lavaca, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Calhoun County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Calhoun County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$771
$14.83
$30,840
1 bedroom
$931
$17.90
$37,240
2 bedrooms
$1,014
$19.50
$40,560
3 bedrooms
$1,310
$25.19
$52,400
4 bedrooms
$1,461
$28.10
$58,440
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Port Lavaca
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Port Lavaca is in ZIP code 77979.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,300: $286 more than the fair market rent for Calhoun County ($1,014).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Port Lavaca, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
77979
$1,040
$1,040
$1,300
$1,560
$1,720
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
77979 $1,300$1,560
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Port Lavaca when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Port Lavaca. These are the largest.
Sea Greens Apt Homes202 Seashell, Port Lavaca 77979110 homes, 109 low-income · 3 bd: 110 · In service since 1997
Port Lavaca Ha627 W George St, Port Lavaca 7797950 low-income homes · Run by Port Lavaca Housing Authority · Average payment: $532 a month · Average wait: 5 months(361) 552-8831
Sea Breeze Village Apts233 Alcoa Dr, Port Lavaca 7797968 homes
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Calhoun County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Port Lavaca or Calhoun County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Port Lavaca the same as in the rest of the state.
Texas state program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with down payment assistance.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state program with down payment assistance for any buyer, not only first-time buyers.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Port Lavaca or Calhoun County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Port Lavaca and all of Calhoun County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Port Lavaca?
The typical home value in Port Lavaca is $128,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Calhoun County it is $171,200.
How much does it cost to rent in Port Lavaca?
Typical rent in Port Lavaca is $849 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Calhoun County is $1,014.
What is the FHA loan limit in Port Lavaca?
Port Lavaca uses the FHA limit for all of Calhoun County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Port Lavaca?
The typical homeowner in Port Lavaca pays $1,908 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.49% of the home’s value; in Calhoun County, the rate is 1.26%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Port Lavaca?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Calhoun County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
