Rent vs buy in Port Arthur, TX
In Port Arthur, Texas, typical rent is $1,196 /mo and the typical home is $124,744.
Buying comes out ahead by $37k over 7 years
Using Port Arthur's typical rent, typical home value, 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You reach break-even in year 3.
Clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust one figure, and the stamp changes.
- Owning is ahead by
- $37k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 3 when owning catches up
- Full cost of owning
- $1,255 /mo year 1, against $1,196 rent
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The stamp draws on Port Arthur's typical rent, along with the typical home value. Different rent, price and time period figures can flip the result.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Port Arthur?
Once you count the money you get back when you sell, buying costs $36,853 less than renting over 7 years. In year 3, the net cost of owning falls below renting and stays lower.
The rent option. Ownership. Net cost to date, shown by year.
How average rent compares with the mortgage payment in Port Arthur
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1 based on Port Arthur's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,196 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $680 | $599 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $148 | 1.42% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $149 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $104 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,081 | $81 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $203 | The yearly return on that cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $52 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $1,255 | Cash out minus the equity part, then add the two lines above |
The Port Arthur verdict in numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $124,744
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,196 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Texas, 1995 to 2025
- 4.7% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Port Arthur
- 1.42% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Port Arthur
- $149 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would turn the Port Arthur result around?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict for Port Arthur changes, with all other factors held as they are.
When renting comes out ahead
- Home prices rise by less than 0.6% each year; our calculation uses 4.7%. That is Texas's rate over the long term.
- The mortgage rate remains above 12.42%.
- Similar homes rent for under $800 monthly (typical here: $1,196).
- Your move happens before year 3.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by over 0.6% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 12.42% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost over $800 a month to rent.
- You remain for 3 years or more.
How Port Arthur compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Port Arthur | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $124,744 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,196 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 8.7 (#803 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Property tax | 1.42% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 42% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities across Texas
- Too close to call. Houston, TX. Renting leads by $2k.
- Renting is the better deal. San Antonio, TX. It leads by $10k.
- Rent. Dallas, TX. Renting is ahead by $20k.
- Rent. Fort Worth, TX. Renting is ahead by $17k.
- Rent. Austin, TX. Renting is ahead by $111k.
- Too close to call. El Paso, TX. Buying leads by $2k.
- Renting is the better deal. Arlington, TX. It leads by $34k.
- Buy. Corpus Christi, TX. Buying is ahead by $4k.
- Rent. Plano, TX. Renting is ahead by $105k.
- Too close to call. Lubbock, TX. Buying leads by $2k.
- Renting is the better deal. Laredo, TX. It leads by $20k.
- Renting is the better deal. Irving, TX. It leads by $36k.