Grigsby's Bluff Jail, 2006
Port Neches’s story
124 years in pictures
Census counts: 2,327 in 1930, 13,692 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1943 on.
- 1902Port Neches is settled
Port NechesTX
A town of 13,768, settled in 1902. 2.5 times the library visits per person than the typical Texas town.
Trash day: look up yoursPopulation
13,768
2025 Census estimate · +0.5% since 2020
Typical home
$247K
+5.6% in a year
Household income
$82K
median
Median age
41.1
years
Jobs based here
3,405
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#216 of 640 in TX
Is Port Neches a good place to live?
Where it falls short is cost of living (C) — the typical home is worth about $247K, 3.8 years of the Beaumont metro’s $65K median household income. It lags on hazard risk as well: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 75% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. Its standout strength is health (B+): it is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns. All told, that adds up to a C+ overall and a rank of 216th of 640 in Texas. That leaves it better than 45% of U.S. towns. Only 65 of Texas’ 791 towns score higher on civic life. The biggest park or preserve is Central Park, at 27 acres. Port Neches’ January low is 43°F, above both the Texas town median (37°F) and the median of U.S. towns (22°F).
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenStreetMap · NOAA normals, 1991–2020.
What makes Port Neches stand out
Where Port Neches beats most towns.
Library visits per resident
Port Neches6.1
Typical U.S. town3.4
Typical TX town2.4
Civic lifeA−
2.5 times the library visits per person
than the typical Texas town
IMLS Public Libraries Survey.
WalkabilityB+
More walkable than 73% of U.S. towns
4.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A commuter town
87% of working residents leave Port Neches for work
Where Port Neches’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,405jobs based in Port Neches
13%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Port Neches grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Port Neches is from typical.
Hazard riskHurricanes top the listC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.6 of 20; 1.6% of households have no carB+Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnCOpen →HealthThe Medical Center of Southeast Texas 5.6 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsSchools do better than mostBOpen →Jobs & income$82K median household incomeC+Open →SafetyAbout average among the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 1% conserved landCOpen →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life6.1 library visits per resident; 3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 12 attractions →Spindletop and 11 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Port Neches. Close and well known come first.
8 mi LandmarkSpindletop
11 mi National PreserveBig Thicket National Preserve228K visitors a year9 mi MuseumSpindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum
12 mi MuseumEdison Museum
12 mi MuseumArt Museum of Southeast Texas
13 mi MuseumBabe Didrikson Zaharias Museum & Visitor CenterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Spindletop: i_am_jim, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Big Thicket National Preserve: NPS, Public domain · Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum: i_am_jim, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Edison Museum: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 · Art Museum of Southeast Texas: R. Rothenberger, CC BY 3.0 · Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum & Visitor Center: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Port Neches: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Port Neches, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Texas13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Port Neches water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown pickup · day by addressTown site
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereJefferson County Early Voting ClerkJefferson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2026
ZIP code7765177651 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Port Neches.
Port Neches reports less crime than Nederland or any other graded neighbor, has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns and is healthier than Nederland and its other neighbors.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Most of Port Neches’ workers head elsewhere: there are 0.6 jobs for each of them
The average commute for its 5,844 working residents takes 18.1 minutes, against 26.7 across Texas.
The top destinations are Beaumont (19%), Port Arthur (13%) and Houston (9%). Port Neches’ mean commuting time stands at 18 minutes. Half the trips to work are shorter than 11 miles. Jobs locally fell by 272 from 2013 to 2023, to 3,405.
13%work in town
| Port Neches | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $82,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Port Neches13%
Beaumont19%
Port Arthur13%
Houston9%
Nederland7%
11 mi
median commute distance
3,405
jobs based in Port Neches
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 73% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB
Public schools in Port Neches beat 60% of Texas districts
Below: Two of its 5 schools, each with why it was picked. The largest public high school is Port Neches-Groves H S, with 1,720 students. The public schools here belong to Port Neches-Groves ISD.
60%of TX districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Neches IntLargest public elementary schoolGrades 3–5 | Grades 3–5 | 607 | – |
| Port Neches-Groves H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,720 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
High risk in Port Neches, with hurricanes at the top
500 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 46 properties have flooded more than once.
Of the losses FEMA expects in Port Neches, 46% come from hurricanes and 20% from tornadoes. The national flood insurance program has paid 500 claims in the town since 1979. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Port Neches after 10 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesTornadoesInland flooding
500
paid flood claims since 1979
10
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Port Neches’ grade for health is a B+
That grade tops all 3 graded neighbors; Nederland (B−) comes closest.
In Port Neches, just over one in ten adults have diabetes. Of 31 CDC measures, Port Neches beats the Texas average on 13 and trails it on 2. Two figures for adults locally: 23% get no exercise outside work, 18% binge drink.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Port Neches | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 39% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 30% | 25% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 18% | 8.1% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
31 measures vs. Texas
13 better16 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Port Neches | TX |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.4% | 12.5% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 11.7% | 19.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.6% | 6.1% |
The Medical Center of Southeast Texas
5.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
73rd
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
The climate in Port Neches brings mild winters and hot summers
January nights average 42.9°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 91.6°.
Snow almost never falls. In Port Neches, the July high is 92°F.
92°summer high
| Port Neches | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 43°F | 37°F | 22°F |
| July high | 92°F | 95°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter45–64°
Spring59–78°
Summer74–91°
Fall60–80°
Dec 7
typical first frost
Feb 14
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C
Port Neches’ grade for cost of living is a C
Values rose 5.6% in the past year while the Texas typical home fell 1.5%.
Home values are up 5.6% over the year to September 2026. Homes sold in Port Neches spent a median 32 days on the market. Port Neches’ midpoint rent comes in at $1,095 a month.
$247KZillow home value
| Port Neches | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,095 a month | $1,208 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Port Neches$247K
Texas$296K
Market temperature
32
days on market
87.1%
sale-to-list price
+5.6%
value change, 1 year
16
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Texas overall
Adults 18 to 34 are nearly a fifth of residents (24% statewide); people 65 and older are 17% of residents (13% statewide). Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 34% across Texas. The age of the median resident for Port Neches comes to 41.1 years.
41.1median age · TX 35.6
| Port Neches | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 years | 35.8 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 24% | 26% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 14% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 23% | 29% |
Port NechesTexasUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma12%
High school30%
Some college20%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.9 points. Across Texas, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Port Neches | TX | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.9% | 13.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10% | 11.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.4% | 9.7% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.3% | 14.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.7% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.5% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.8% | 11.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.8% | 8.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.6% | 5.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.8% | 14% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.9% | 24.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.9% | 20.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.3% | 7.7% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.2% | 21.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.9% | 12.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
OutdoorsC
Conserved land covers 0.7% of Port Neches
1.4 miles of trail wind through 3 parks and preserves. Port Neches’ trail network density is 0.2 miles per square mile.
#346for trails in TX
| Port Neches | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.7% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
0.7%
conserved · 38 of 5,813 acres
1.4 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Central Park | — | 27 |
| 2. Port Neches Riverfront Park | — | 14 |
| 3. Sunset Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyB−
Port Neches reports less crime per resident than 52% of U.S. towns
Its B− tops all 3 graded towns on its borders; Nederland (C+) comes closest.
The property offense rate in Port Neches is 8.6 per 1,000 residents. The violent offense rate in the town is 2 per 1,000 residents.
52%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Port Neches | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.6 per 1,000 residents | 10.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Port Neches2
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Port Neches8.6
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
52nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
63rd
percentile among TX towns
28
violent crimes reported in 2025
118
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Port Neches
20pages on Port Neches
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 60% of TX districts · 5 schoolsSafetyB−2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than TX on 13 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC$247K typical home · up 5.6% in a yearWork & commuteC+$82K median household income · 3,405 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 75% of U.S. communities · hurricanes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Port Neches
Lamar State College-Port ArthurCommunity college · Public · Port Arthur6 mi$1,770 in-state tuitionLamar UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Beaumont8.7 mi$8,905 in-state tuitionLamar Institute of TechnologyCommunity college · Public · Beaumont9.2 mi$2,844 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Port Neches residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas.
About Port Neches
City in Texas, United States
Port Neches is a city in Jefferson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,692 at the 2020 census, an increase over the figure of 13,040 tabulated in 2010. It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 9.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 16 ft
- ZIP code
- 77651
- Area code
- 409
Port Neches’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Port Neches.
It grades higher overall than all 3 graded towns on its borders; Nederland (C+) comes closest. Port Arthur next door grades lower for schools (D to Port Neches’s B) and higher for cost of living (B to C).
Port ArthurGrovesNederlandPort Neches
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TX rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Neches | #216 | C+ | C | B− | B | B+ |
| Port Arthur | #632 | D− | B | D | D | D− |
| Groves | #467 | D | C+ | C+ | C− | C |
| Nederland | #234 | C+ | C− | C+ | A− | B− |
Questions about Port Neches
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Port Neches, TX a good place to live?
Port Neches grades C+ overall, better than 45% of U.S. towns and #216 of 640 in Texas. It grades B+ for health, B− for safety and B for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Port Neches, TX expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.