Port Arthur is a retail center in itself and is home to a major shopping mall, strip centers and several shopping areas that include large “anchor” stores such as Academy, Walmart, Office Depot, Target, Dillard’s, JC Penny, Ross, etc. Retail and wholesale trade, distribution, business and medical services are important elements of the local economy.
| Number of Households | 139,700 |
| Households by EBI | |
| $20,000-$34,999 | 30,011 |
| $35,000-$49,999 | 23,408 |
| $50,000 and over | 39,407 |
| Median Household EBI | $30,711 |
| Average Household EBI | $39,032 |
| Total EBI | $5,452,761 |
| Households with EBI of $150,000 or more | 1,686 |
| Total Business Establishments | 8,059 |
| Buying Power Index | 0.1294 |
Source: Marketing Statistics, Producers of the Survey of Buying Power
| Port Arthur | Jefferson County | |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | $3,047,563,257 | $7,359,323,730 |
| All Industries | $8,038,285,819 | $14,511,801,841 |
Source: Quarterly Sales Report, Window on Texas, www.cpa.state.tx.us
The average rental cost for a two-bedroom apartment in Port Arthur is $800 . The average purchase price of a single family home in Port Arthur is $80,300. The cost of living index, with the U.S. average being 100, is 93.73.
Source: Board of Realtors
Median Prices of Single-Family Homes/Median Income
| MLS | Median Priced Homes | Median Family Income |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont | $130,100 | $51,400 |
| Port Athur | $144,700 | $51,400 |
| Texas | $146,900 | $55,000 |
| United States | $196,600 | $61,500 |
Source: Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University
Housing Occupancy
| Port Arthur | Jefferson County | ||
| Total Units | 24,713 | 102,080 | |
| Occupied | 21,839 | 92,880 | |
| Vacant | 2,874 | 9,210 |
Source: U.S. Census
Port Arthur Building Permits
| Number | Valuation | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | 1,319 | $40,549,484 | $105,548 |
| Demolition | 142 | $4,550 | $6,950 |
| Electrical | 1,148 | - | $15,008 |
| Mechanical | 289 | $3,277,653 | $7,090 |
| Moving | 7 | $100 | $350 |
| Plumbing | 402 | - | $6,503 |
| Total | 3,307 | $43,831,787 | $141,449 |
Source: City of Port Arthur
City Sales and Use Tax Comparison Summary -
|
Net Pymt |
Comparable Pymt |
% |
2008 Pymts |
2007 Pymts |
% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jefferson County
|
2,409,361.91 | 2,272,277.46 | 6.03% | 4,415,521.33 | 3,815,253.54 | 15.73% |
|
Port Arthur |
1,362,547.10 | 1,321,482.07 | 3.10% | 2,205,624.46 | 2,116,994.65 | 4.18% |
Source: Quarterly Sales Report, Window on Texas, www.cpa.state.tx.us
Income Information of Port Arthur and Surrounding Areas
| Port Arthur |
$26,455 |
| Beaumont |
$32,183 |
| Nederland |
$45,188 |
| Groves |
$32,000 |
| Port Neches |
$35,000 |
The per capita income for Port Arthur is $15,876 (which includes all adults and children).
Source: Sperling's Best Places and www.simplyhired.com
