Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Port Lavaca, Texas
A $121,000 home here costs
$1,223per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $52,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $660. The real number is $564 higher every month, 85% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Calhoun County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Port Lavaca against Calhoun County and Texas
| Measure | Port Lavaca | Calhoun County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,000 | $150,000 |
| Median property tax | $1,685 | $2,095 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.393% | 1.397% |
| Median gross rent | $1,024 | $1,121 |
| Population | 11,410 | 19,921 |
The weather behind that power bill
Port Lavaca sits in Calhoun County, which averages a high of 91.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 41.7°F in its coldest, with 39.6" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,123 cooling and 1,191 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Calhoun County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Calhoun County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Port Lavaca averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Port Lavaca every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Port Lavaca I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Port Lavaca?
A $121,000 home in Port Lavaca, Texas costs approximately $1,223 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $660 principal and interest, $140 property tax, $80 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $101 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Port Lavaca?
Port Lavaca has an effective property tax rate of 1.393%, based on a median home value of $121,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,685. That is in line with the Calhoun County average of 1.397%.
What is the average home price in Port Lavaca?
The median owner-occupied home value in Port Lavaca, Texas is $121,000, against $150,000 across Calhoun County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Port Lavaca?
Median gross rent in Port Lavaca is $1,024 a month, against $1,223 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Port Lavaca?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Port Lavaca, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $52,500 a year. That covers the full $1,223 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Port Lavaca, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Texas.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.