Affordable Storage in Port Arthur

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Port Arthur.

About Port Arthur, TX

Port Arthur is in Jefferson County, 90 miles east of Houston. The 2020 census counted 56,039 people living there. The larger Beaumont - Port Arthur metropolitan area has a population of 397,565 (U.S. 2020 Census). The city sits on the shores of the Sabine Lake, which is an inlet from the Gulf of Mexico.

Arthur Stilwell founded Port Arthur as his namesake in 1895. It was incorporated as a city in 1898 and quickly grew as a thriving seaport.

In contemporary times, Port Arthur is known for having the Motiva Refinery, the largest oil refinery in the United States. It is an area that is frequently hit by hurricanes, and the city has suffered significant damage from storms in the past. Regardless of this risk, it is still a vital part of the oil refining infrastructure of the United States, and all those refined petroleum products must move in tankers by sea.

Despite the megatrend toward renewable and “green” energy, the refinery capacity and the seaport have garnered billions of dollars of investments for upgrades.

What to do in Port Arthur, TX

Port Arthur is an industrial area but has a saltwater lake with beaches where you can do some fishing.

• Features: The Rainbow Bridge is northeast of Port Arthur. It connects to Bridge City. It is a very tall bridge that is exciting to drive across.
• Events: Popular events are First Day Hike at Sea Rim State Park, Nederland Heritage Festival, Garden Fest, Juneteenth Parade, Mexican Heritage Festival, 4th of July Fireworks, Groves Pecan Festival, Holiday Lights, and the Christmas Parade.
• Museums/Historical Parks: The Museum of the Gulf Coast, the Texas Artists Museum, and the “Tex” Ritter Historical Park are interesting to visit.
• Destinations: Fishing from the beach at the Sea Rim State Park or taking a fishing boat for a trip from Pleasure Island in Sabine Lake is popular. Deep sea fishing by going on a chartered boat out into the Gulf of Mexico is a lot of fun, too.

Working in Port Arthur, TX

The local economy depends on petroleum, construction, retail, and health care. The unemployment rate is 16.1%, which is too high. The median household income is $42,933 per year, which is about $26,000 less than the American average of $69,021. The economy is declining, with very low job creation when compared to the national average. Port Arthur's predicted job growth rate for the next ten years is 14.2%, compared to the predicted national average of 33.5%.

The industries offering the most jobs are health care (12.4%), construction (9.5%), education (7.8%), public administration (7%), hotels/restaurants (6.5%), waste management (4.5%), and petroleum products (4%).

Port Arthur, TX Neighborhoods

The best neighborhoods are on the western side of the town.

Here are a few areas with nice homes for sale:

• Jimmy Johnson Blvd / Anchor Dr: This nice neighborhood has a median real estate price of $300,613, which is more expensive than 60% of the rest of the state. Most homes were built after 2000. Some were constructed between 1970 to 1999. Rental homes are $1,541 monthly. The vacancy rate is 15.3%, making finding a place to rent in this area extremely easy.
• Port Arthur West: This area has a median real estate price of $247,100. Apartments and homes are available for an average rent of $2,061 monthly. The vacancy rate is 25.8%, so renting a place in this area is easy.
• Port Arthur Northwest: The median real estate price in this neighborhood is $220,729. Rental homes are available for an average rent of $661 per month. There are apartment complexes and mobile homes in this area. The vacancy rate is 10.3%.
• Port Arthur North: Here, the median real estate price is $218,973. This neighborhood has a mixture of homes and apartment complexes. Some houses are owner-occupied. About half are rented. The houses were built between 1970 and 1999, with a few newer houses built after 2000. The vacancy rate is 7.1%. The average rent is $1,334 per month.

Port Arthur, TX School District

The Port Arthur Independent School District is the administrator of the public schools. The school district spends $15,220 annually for each student, which is an excellent amount compared to other districts in the area. The student-to-teacher ratio of 13 to one creates a wonderfully small class size.

There is only one private school in Port Arthur. It is St. Catherine of Siena School. It is a Catholic school, which has about 115 students enrolled in the grades of PK to 8th grade.

There are six colleges and universities within a 50-mile area. Port Arthur's best public college is the two-year Lamar State College. The nearest four-year schools are Lamar University in Beaumont and the public McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana about 47 miles from Port Arthur.

Moving to Port Arthur, TX Resource Guide

The City of Port Arthur has an elected mayor who works with six elected members serving on the City Council.

The Port Arthur Department of Parks & Recreation manages the public parks, recreational centers, programs, and city-sponsored events.

Port Arthur, TX Housing

If you want to buy a home in Port Arthur, the median home price is $149,500. This price remains about the same year-over-year. It’s a buyer’s market with more homes listed for sale than interested buyers.

The cost of living in Port Arthur is wonderfully low. It is 11% less than other cities in the state and 19% lower than the national average.