ZIP Code 77979
standardSource:
Port Lavaca · Calhoun County · Texas
- Population
- 17,144
- Median income
- $77,039
- Median home value
- $156,200
- Bachelor's or higher
- 20.0%
- Land area
- 883.7 sq mi
19/sq mi
▲ 1% vs US
higher than 58% of US ZIPs
▼ 44% vs US
higher than 28% of US ZIPs
Median age 40.1
Chicago
ZIP code 77979 in Port Lavaca, Texas has a population of 17,144. The median household income is $77,039, which is 1% above the national average. Median home value is $156,200, 44% below the US average. 20.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 77979 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 883.7 square miles in Port Lavaca, Calhoun County, Texas. The area is home to 17,144 residents, producing a population density of 19 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 77979 against Texas and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 77979 sits at $77,039 (2% above the Texas average), while per-capita income is $41,161. The poverty rate stands at 9.1% and the unemployment rate at 8.0%. On housing, the median home value is $156,200 (37% below the state average) with median rent at $865 per month, and 75.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 77979 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 20.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.1, and the average commute is 20 minutes. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 additional ZIPs sharing Calhoun County, so you can benchmark 77979 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 77979
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 77979.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
55 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
46 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
40 establishments
- Construction
Construction
33 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
30 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 77979, Port Lavaca, TX · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
17,144
Population
883.7
Area (sq mi)
19
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 77979?
40.1
Median Age
51.7%
Male
48.3%
Female
10.2%
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?
$77,039
Median Household Income
+2% vs state
$41,161
Per Capita Income
9.1%
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Unemployment Rate
19.6 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
8,307
Total Housing Units
7,140
Occupied Units
1,167
Vacant Units
2.27
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$156,200
Median Home Value
-37% vs state
$865
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
+7.0%
YoY Change (2024)
259
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+159%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 77979 have increased 7.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +159% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -0.7% | 199 |
| 2021 | +12.8% | 224 |
| 2022 | +9.0% | 244 |
| 2023 | -1.1% | 242 |
| 2024 | +7.0% | 259 |
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 347 business establishments in ZIP 77979, employing approximately 5,936 people with a combined annual payroll of $352,135,000.
347
Businesses
5,936
Employees
$352.1M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 55 | 15.8% |
| Retail trade | 46 | 13.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 40 | 11.5% |
| Construction | 33 | 9.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 30 | 8.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 26 | 7.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 24 | 6.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 16 | 4.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 4.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 15 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 3.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 8 | 2.3% |
| Information | 7 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 3 | 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 77979 vs 77978 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77978 | Point Comfort, TX | 743 | 4.9 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Calhoun County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 77979 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 77979? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 77979? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 77979? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 77979? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 77979? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 77979? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 77979? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 77979? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 77979? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 77979? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 77979? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Port Lavaca, TX
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.