RANK #964 / 996 · POP 68,942 · TX
PROJECTED GROWTH: -3.6%
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.
| 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.
San Patricio County has a Boom Town Index score of 3/100, ranking #964 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -7.8% and a median household income of $63,842, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in San Patricio County is $163,900 with median rent at $1,265/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3895, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: -7.8%. Home values changed -0.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.25% of San Patricio County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.