Port Arthur, TX · standard
ZIP Code 77642
Jefferson County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 37,111
- 728/sq mi High-density area
- $42,950
- Median income Below-median income area
- $104,700
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 11.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Port Arthur pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 8th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 11th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 728
- people per sq mi
- 53%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 77642 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 77642 (Port Arthur, TX) fell -6.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 239.9 in 2023 to 223.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 77642 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas, with 37,111 residents across 51.0 square miles, a density of 728 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 77642 reports a modest median household income of $42,950 (43% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $24,940. The poverty rate is 31.8%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $104,700 (58% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $948; owner occupancy is 53.0%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 11.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.3, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 77642 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 77642
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Port Arthur, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 77642.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
102 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
85 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
73 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
50 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
44 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 77642, Port Arthur, TX · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
37,111
Population
51.0
Area (sq mi)
728
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 77642?
32.3
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
23.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$42,950
Median Household Income
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$24,940
Per Capita Income
31.8%
Poverty Rate
7.8%
Unemployment Rate
25.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 77642 ranks nationally
Port Arthur, TX household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$42,950 8th percentile higher than 8% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
16,446housing units
16,446
Total Housing Units
14,306
Occupied Units
2,140
Vacant Units
2.65
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$104,700
Median Home Value
-58% vs state ZIP avg
$948
Median Rent
1976
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-6.8%
YoY Change (2024)
224
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+124%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 77642 have decreased 6.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +124% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.5% | 169 |
| 2021 | +18.4% | 200 |
| 2022 | +2.3% | 205 |
| 2023 | +17.0% | 240 |
| 2024 | -6.8% | 224 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 535 business establishments in ZIP 77642, employing approximately 10,129 people with a combined annual payroll of $488,508,000.
535
Businesses
10,129
Employees
$488.5M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 102 | 19.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 85 | 15.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 73 | 13.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 50 | 9.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 44 | 8.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 34 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 33 | 6.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 26 | 4.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 3.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 17 | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 15 | 2.8% |
| Manufacturing | 14 | 2.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.1% |
| Information | 5 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 77642 vs 77619 →
ZIP 77642 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 77642
Port Arthur (77642)
37,111 residents
- 77630
Orange (77630)
26,796 residents
- 77627
Nederland (77627)
21,454 residents
- 77640
Port Arthur (77640)
16,875 residents
- 77619
Groves (77619)
16,147 residents
- 77651 13,043
Port Neches (77651)
13,043 residents
- 77611 8,219
Bridge City (77611)
8,219 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 77642 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 77642 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 77611
Bridge City (77611)
$92,004 median income
- 77651
Port Neches (77651)
$81,637 median income
- 77627
Nederland (77627)
$78,001 median income
- 77619
Groves (77619)
$73,710 median income
- 77630
Orange (77630)
$64,373 median income
- 77640
Port Arthur (77640)
$50,973 median income
- 77642
Port Arthur (77642)
$42,950 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 77642 ranks #7 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 77642, both outside TX so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (37,111 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 77642 in?
ZIP code 77642 (Port Arthur) is located in Jefferson County, Texas. Jefferson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/jefferson-tx.
What is the population of ZIP code 77642?
ZIP code 77642 in Port Arthur, TX has a population of 37,111 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 77642?
The median household income in ZIP 77642 is $42,950, which is 44% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 77642?
The median home value in ZIP 77642 is $104,700, which is 62% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 77642?
The largest racial group in ZIP 77642 is African American at 38.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 42.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 77642?
ZIP code 77642 has 535 business establishments employing approximately 10,129 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 77642?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 77642 are: Retail trade (102), Health care and social assistance (85), Accommodation and food services (73). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 77642?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 77642 decreased by 6.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 124%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 77642?
In ZIP code 77642, 47.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 77642?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 77642 is 25.0 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 77642?
In ZIP code 77642, approximately 53.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 77642?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 77642 is 31.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 77642's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 77642 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Port Arthur, TX ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.