RANK #948 / 1001 NAT · #61 / 72 TX · POP 70,181
1YR FORECAST: -3.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +15%
San Patricio County, Texas, is known for its coastal access and agricultural roots, with towns like Portland offering bay views and Sinton serving as the county seat. Located on the lower Gulf Coast, Sinton is about sixteen miles north of Corpus Christi, making it a reasonable commute for those working in the larger city. The county's landscape features flat coastal plains, mesquite, and live oak trees, with some rolling caliche hills in the western areas. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for fishing and bird-watching in its coastal wetlands. Lake Corpus Christi, near Mathis, provides freshwater recreation, including fishing and boating. The county also has various parks and trails, such as the Sunset Lake Park Trail in Portland.
Life in San Patricio County offers a blend of coastal living and agricultural community. The public schools in the county are generally considered above average. Commute options include local public transportation provided by the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) and REAL Transit, which also offers services to surrounding counties and Corpus Christi. The economy is diverse, driven by agriculture, with a significant portion of the county's land dedicated to farming and ranching. Major investments in energy, chemical, and manufacturing sectors are also shaping the economic landscape, with large industrial sites under development.
San Patricio County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.3% YoY, population +0.9%, wages +3.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 9.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cheniere LNG Terminal (Stage 1)
Cheniere Energy, Inc.
|
$13,000M | Under Construction |
|
ArcelorMittal Direct Reduction Plant
ArcelorMittal
|
$740M | Operating |
|
Battery Storage Portfolio (Pintail, TOLSTA BESS, Pathfinder Energy Storage)
Lydian Energy, Undisclosed
|
$440M | Planned |
|
El Algodon Alto Wind Farm
RWE Renewables
|
$200M | Operating |
|
Peacock Solar Farm
Lightsource bp
|
$187M | Operating |
|
San Patricio County Judicial Building
San Patricio County
|
$63M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — San Patricio County scores just 4/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #948 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.3% and median household income of $69,704 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
By national standards, San Patricio County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $192,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,291/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
San Patricio County's population is growing — up +0.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.3%). Home values shifted +1.3% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.07% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests San Patricio County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.