The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 77661 sells for about $202,239, or $115 per square foot.
Prices are down 2.1% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 98 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,026 a month.
ZIP 77661 — Stowell (CDP)
The housing market in 77661 is currently stable but reflects the economic volatility of its industrial-dependent base. Low sales volume and high flood-risk insurance costs are primary drivers of the current cautious sentiment among market participants.
This ZIP is best suited for local industrial workers and those seeking affordable rural living, as it lacks the amenities and infrastructure preferred by urban commuters or high-end investors.
Median prices moved down 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 98 days on market with 6.2 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 5.5% · poverty 14.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 77661, Texas
Crime data for Stowell is not determinable at the ZIP level; regional comparisons suggest rural patterns with lower violent crime rates than nearby urban centers like Beaumont.
Schools serving the area are primarily part of the East Chambers Independent School District, which generally maintains a stable academic reputation within the rural Texas context.
The area is located in a high-risk flood zone due to its proximity to the Gulf Coast and low-lying topography, necessitating mandatory flood insurance for most residential properties.
Economic momentum is tied to the energy and agricultural sectors in Chambers County, with limited new residential development activity currently reported.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Texas) — Senior (65+) and Disabled Homestead Exemption and School Tax Ceiling: Grants an additional mandatory $10,000 exemption from ISD appraised value (Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100,000 - $10,000) and establishes an absolute statutory tax freeze (school tax ceiling): total ISD property taxes cannot exceed the dollar ceiling established in the… State (Texas) — General Residence Homestead Exemption and 10% Valuation Growth Cap: Imposes mandatory state-level valuation deductions and growth limitations on the qualifying homestead: (1) Mandates a $100,000 deduction from appraised value for independent school district (ISD) maintenance and operations/debt taxation: Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100… State (Texas) — Ad Valorem Real Property Taxation and Assessment Ratio: Mandates ad valorem appraisal of all real property at 100% of fair market value as of January 1 each tax year (Assessment Ratio = 1.00).
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents typically traveling toward Beaumont or the industrial hubs along the Houston Ship Channel via I-10.
Recreational options are limited, consisting primarily of local outdoor spaces and proximity to coastal fishing and hunting areas in Chambers County.
The rental market is characterized by low inventory and steady demand from local industrial workers, with limited turnover and minimal short-term rental presence.
The economy is heavily reliant on the energy, petrochemical, and agricultural sectors, with major employers located in neighboring industrial hubs.
Transit is exclusively private vehicle-based, with I-10 serving as the primary artery for regional connectivity.
Development is largely stagnant with no major master-planned communities or commercial projects currently approved within the ZIP.
The Chambers County Appraisal District manages assessments, focusing on agricultural and industrial property valuations alongside residential parcels.
Parcels are subject to East Chambers ISD and various local drainage and utility districts typical of rural Texas coastal counties.
Property insurance premiums are high and rising due to significant wind and flood risk exposure associated with the Gulf Coast location.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA profiles.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Major regional attraction for birding and outdoor recreation located nearby.
Local green space serving the immediate community.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.