Portland-Gregory
RANK #876 / 996 NAT · #51 / 69 TX · POP 68,942
1YR FORECAST: -1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +13%
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.
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.8x — home prices are low 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.
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 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — San Patricio County scores just 11/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #876 of 996 counties. Job growth at -7.8% and median household income of $63,842 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 $163,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.39 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,265/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
San Patricio County's job market is contracting (-7.8% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.5% change). Home values are -0.2% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.25% 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.