Small city in Harris County, part of the Houston metro
Living in La Porte, TX
87th of 192Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people
Overall score 55 of 100
59th of 125 in the Houston area
La Porte earns a grade of C+ on our index, 87th of 192 Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. It does best on home ownership and safety, and trails on getting around and education levels.
- Getting around scores low (17 of 100)
- Education levels scores low (18 of 100)
- Population
- 37,983+8.1% since 2020
- Median rent
- $1,378about the same as Texas
- Median home value
- $234,60017% lower than Texas
- Household income
- $80,753Median
- Average commute
- 24 minOne way
- Violent crime
- 134Per 100k, 2025
What it's like to live in La Porte
La Porte sits about 22 miles from downtown Houston, in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro. 37,983 people lived here in 2025, up 8.1% from 2020. It is spread out.
Places locals use include Little Cedar Bayou Park, Pecan park and Northwest Park.
The median age is 37.2, 37% of households have children, 71% of homes are owned by the people living in them and the typical household earns $80,753 a year (about the same as the Texas median).
Pros of living in La Porte
- Low violent crime. 134 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2025, 65% lower than the Texas rate.
Cons of living in La Porte
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, coastal flooding and hurricanes as very high here.
Who La Porte suits
- FamiliesA reasonable fit: 67% of rated schools earn an A or B and violent crime is 65% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 75% for families.
- Young professionalsNot the best fit: household income is about the same as the Texas median, with 116 restaurants and 8 cafes in town. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 24% for young professionals.
- RetireesA reasonable fit: 19% of working-age adults are uninsured and violent crime is 65% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 63% for retirees.
- Remote workersA reasonable fit: 92% of homes have broadband and the median rent of $1,378 is about the same as the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 44% for remote workers.
- People on a budgetNot the best fit: the median rent of $1,378 is about the same as the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 33% for people on a budget.
La Porte report card
Ten grades, one for each part of daily life we measure. Most compare La Porte with other US cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. Schools, safety and errands compare it with other Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people.
Cost of living: grade C+
Median rent $1,378, homes cost 2.9x income.
48 of 100 vs US citiesJobs and income: grade C-
Median household income $80,753, 5.4% unemployed.
39 of 100 vs US citiesSchools: grade B-
9 rated campuses, 67% rated A or B.
62 of 100 vs TX citiesSafety: grade B
134 violent crimes per 100k, 978 property crimes per 100k.
67 of 100 vs TX citiesErrands and things to do: grade C+
5 grocery stores, 116 restaurants, 22 parks mapped in town.
49 of 100 vs TX citiesGetting around: grade D
Average commute 24 min, 8.1% work from home.
17 of 100 vs US citiesEducation levels: grade D
18% have a bachelor’s degree.
18 of 100 vs US citiesHealth: grade D+
19% of adults uninsured.
31 of 100 vs US citiesHome ownership: grade B+
71% of homes owner-occupied.
76 of 100 vs US citiesInternet access: grade C
92% of homes have broadband.
42 of 100 vs US cities
Where La Porte stands out compared with Texas
Better than Texas
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 71%8 points higher than Texas (63%)
- Home value to income: 2.9x20% lower than Texas (3.6x)
- Vacant homes: 3.4%6 points lower than Texas (9.4%)
Worse than Texas
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 18%16 points lower than Texas (34%)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 63%11 points higher than Texas (52%)
- Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 0.3%2 points lower than Texas (2.6%)
Cost of living in La Porte
Rent is the cost most newcomers feel first. The median rent in La Porte is $1,378 a month, about the same as the Texas median of $1,403. To keep that rent at 30% of income, a household needs to earn about $55,000 a year. Right now 63% of renters here pay more than 30% of their income on rent.
HUD sets fair market rents for this area at $1,261 for a one-bedroom, $1,497 for a two-bedroom and $2,017 for a three-bedroom (fiscal year 2027). These figures include utilities and describe a modest unit, so newer apartments often ask for more.
The median home is worth $234,600, 17% lower than the Texas median. With 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28%, the monthly payment comes to about $1,284 before tax, or $1,589 with property tax. That is $211 a month more than the median rent, a gap that can be worth it if you plan to stay a while.
Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes are among the highest in the country. The median homeowner in La Porte pays $3,657 a year, 14% lower than the Texas median of $4,232. Budget for it, along with homeowners insurance, which our numbers do not include.
See the full cost of living breakdown for La Porte
Typical rent by apartment size
| Measure | Here | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rentAbout the same as Texas | $1,378 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Median home value17% lower than Texas | $234,600 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Home value to income20% lower than Texas | 2.9x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent11 points higher than Texas | 63% | 52% | 51% |
| Median property tax per year14% lower than Texas | $3,657 | $4,232 | $3,119 |
| Homes owned by the people living in them8 points higher than Texas | 71% | 63% | 65% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Texas | 1983 | 1992 | 1980 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $1,284
- Property tax
- $305
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,378
Based on a $234,600 home in La Porte, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median paid locally, or the county median where the local figure is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.
Is La Porte safe?
In 2025, La Porte Police Department reported 52 violent crimes and 379 property crimes. That works out to 134 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 65% lower than the Texas rate of 387, and 978 property crimes per 100,000, 53% lower than the state rate.
Violent crime is down about 37% since 2021, based on the yearly rates below.
Crime rates describe the whole area a police department covers. Some streets are much quieter than the average and some are busier, so look at the neighborhood grades and visit at different times of day.
Violent crimes per 100,000 people by year. The dashed line is the Texas rate for 2025.
Property crimes per 100,000 people by year.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, La Porte Police Department, 2025. Rates count reported crimes only and cover the area this police department serves.
Schools in La Porte
La Porte has 9 public school campuses with a 2025 state rating inside the city, and 67% of them earn an A or B. Most students here are served by La Porte ISD.
Top-rated campuses include Leo A Rizzuto Elementary and Lomax Elementary. The average rating score across all campuses is 83 out of 100, against a Texas median of 81.
Texas districts usually assign students by attendance zone rather than the closest campus, so check the zone for a specific address with the district before you sign a lease or buy.
Ratings are the 2025 Texas Education Agency A to F accountability ratings. Always check which school serves a specific address with the district.
Top-rated schools
- ALeo A Rizzuto ElementaryElementary, La Porte ISD91 of 100
- ALomax ElementaryElementary, La Porte ISD91 of 100
- BLa Porte ElementaryElementary, La Porte ISD87 of 100
- BLa Porte High SchoolHigh, La Porte ISD84 of 100
- BLomax Junior HighMiddle, La Porte ISD84 of 100
Best neighborhoods in La Porte
We grade 11 areas inside La Porte. The top three are Fairmont Park (A-), Morgan's Landing (A-) and Creekmont (A-). If price matters most, Pecan Crossing has the lowest median rent among areas graded C or better, at $1,040 a month. Fairmont Park is the priciest, at $2,040. Use the map to color the city by any grade, or the sliders to rank areas by what you care about.
Rank La Porte neighborhoods your way
What matters to you?
Move a slider and the list re-ranks right away.
The grade is our overall grade. Fit shows how well each one matches your sliders, from 0 to 100, against the others in this list.
- 1A-Fairmont Park883 people, median rent $2,040, home $201,000100fit
- 2A-Morgan's Landing2,210 people, home $240,00090fit
- 3A-Creekmont3,985 people, median rent $1,400, home $233,00080fit
- 4B+Fairmont Park East5,632 people, median rent $1,420, home $263,00070fit
- 5B-Fairmont Park West3,017 people, median rent $1,650, home $223,00060fit
- 6B-Southeast La Porte954 people, median rent $1,570, home $345,00050fit
- 7CCentral La Porte4,783 people, median rent $1,450, home $213,00040fit
- 8C-Pecan Crossing2,630 people, median rent $1,040, home $281,00030fit
- 9D+Bayside Terrace1,539 people, median rent $1,800, home $210,00020fit
- 10DGlen Meadows1,450 people, median rent $2,090, home $376,00010fit
- 11D-Pecan Plantation3,027 people, median rent $1,480, home $188,0000fit
All 11 La Porte neighborhoods, A to Z
- Bayside Terrace (D+)
- Central La Porte (C)
- Creekmont (A-)
- Fairmont Park (A-)
- Fairmont Park East (B+)
- Fairmont Park West (B-)
- Glen Meadows (D)
- Morgan's Landing (A-)
- Pecan Crossing (C-)
- Pecan Plantation (D-)
- Southeast La Porte (B-)
Daily life in La Porte
Everyday places mapped inside La Porte, from Overture Maps. Well-known spots include Little Cedar Bayou Park, Pecan park, Northwest Park.
The average one-way commute is 24 minutes, 8% shorter than the Texas average. 8% of workers work from home. Fewer than 3% walk, bike or take transit to work, so plan on driving for almost everything.
Downtown Houston is about 22 miles away in a straight line. Many people who live in La Porte work elsewhere in the metro, so test the drive at rush hour before you commit.
The median household income is $80,753, income per person is $44,477, unemployment is 5.4% and 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.
Jobs, income and education
| Measure | Here | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household incomeAbout the same as Texas | $80,753 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Income per person9% higher than Texas | $44,477 | $40,752 | $44,673 |
| Unemployment rateAbout the same as Texas | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line2 points lower than Texas | 12% | 14% | 12% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher16 points lower than Texas | 18% | 34% | 36% |
| Adults with a high school diploma or higher3 points higher than Texas | 88% | 86% | 90% |
| Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance1 points lower than Texas | 19% | 20% | 11% |
| Homes with broadband internetAbout the same as Texas | 92% | 91% | 91% |
Getting to work
| Measure | Here | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average commute8% lower than Texas | 24 min | 27 min | 26 min |
| Workers who work from home6 points lower than Texas | 8.1% | 14% | 15% |
Who lives in La Porte
Median age 37.2 years. 37% of households have children.
Race and ethnicity
Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.
Weather in La Porte
La Porte has a hot Texas climate. July highs average 92°F and January lows about 46°F. There are about 76 days a year at 90°F or above, and about 60 inches of rain a year.
Average daily high and low by month, °F, with rain below. NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from Houston Nwso, 14 mi away. Orange months average 90°F or more.
Natural hazard risk
FEMA's National Risk Index says river flooding risk is very high, coastal flooding risk is very high, hurricane risk is very high, tornado risk is very high and hail risk is low. Before you buy, look up the FEMA flood zone for the exact address and get a flood insurance quote, since standard home policies do not cover floods.
- River floodingVery high
- Coastal floodingVery high
- HurricanesVery high
- TornadoesVery high
- HailLow
- Heat wavesHigh
- WildfiresModerate
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025, Census tract level averaged for the city. Check the FEMA flood map for any address before you buy.
Places near La Porte
Nearby, Shoreacres gets a B+, Deer Park gets a B+ and Taylor Lake Village gets an A+. Each is graded against Texas places of its own size, so a small town and a big city can both earn an A.
- B+ShoreacresTown, 1,580 people4 mi
- B+Deer ParkSmall city, 33,967 people5 mi
- A+Taylor Lake VillageTown, 3,721 people6 mi
- A+El LagoTown, 2,997 people7 mi
- D+PasadenaCity, 149,433 people7 mi
- B+SeabrookSmall city, 13,768 people7 mi
La Porte in the Houston area
How it ranks among 125 places in the metro.
- 1A+Taylor Lake Village3,721 people25 mito downtown
- 2A+Bunker Hill Village3,829 people9 mito downtown
- 3A+West University Place14,982 people6 mito downtown
- 56B-Katy25,184 people27 mito downtown
- 57B-Bellville4,221 people53 mito downtown
- 58B-Alvin28,333 people30 mito downtown
- 59C+La Porte36,730 people22 mito downtown
- 60C+Manvel14,758 people21 mito downtown
- 61C+Sheldon2,208 people16 mito downtown
- 62C+Tomball13,655 people25 mito downtown
Living in La Porte: common questions
Is La Porte, TX a good place to live?
La Porte earns a grade of C+ on our index, 87th of 192 Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. It does best on home ownership and safety, and trails on getting around and education levels.
How much does it cost to live in La Porte?
Median rent in La Porte is $1,378 a month, about the same as the Texas median. The median home is worth $234,600, 17% lower than the Texas median. A median home costs 2.9x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Texas. With 20% down at a 7.28% rate, the monthly payment on a median home is about $1,589, including property tax.
Is La Porte safe?
In 2025, La Porte Police Department reported 134 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 65% lower than the Texas rate. Property crime was 978 per 100,000, 53% lower than the Texas rate.
Are the schools good in La Porte?
We found 9 rated public school campuses inside La Porte. 67% are rated A or B by the Texas Education Agency. Its schools score is 62 of 100 compared with other Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people.
What are the best neighborhoods in La Porte?
Based on our scores, the top-rated areas in La Porte are Fairmont Park, Morgan's Landing and Creekmont. We score 11 areas in the city.
Does La Porte flood?
FEMA rates river flooding risk in La Porte as very high, and coastal flooding as very high. Hazards rated high or very high here: river flooding, coastal flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes and heat waves. Always check the flood map for a specific address before you buy.
What is the weather like in La Porte?
Summers in La Porte peak at about 92°F in July, and January nights fall to about 46°F. Expect around 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 60 inches of rain.
How long is the commute in La Porte?
The average one-way commute is 24 min, 8% lower than the Texas average. About 8.1% of workers work from home. It is about 22 miles from downtown Houston.
Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year and 2025 population estimates, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings, FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA National Risk Index, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, Overture Maps. Updated 2026-10-04. How we grade.