08-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Home Prices Have Exploded in the Once Sleepy Fishing Village of Port Aransas
On the Texas Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi is Mustang Island, a narrow barrier island with 18 miles of mostly uninterrupted beachline and a large state park. Its main city, Port Aransas, known as Port A, has a population of roughly 3,500 that swells to the tens of thousands in the spring through fall. Within the past decade, Port A home prices have grown 155%, according to Redfin. Once a small fishing village, the city has become a hub for wealthy second homeowners buying multimillion-dollar, pastel-colored properties within newer master-planned communities designed to evoke northwestern Florida's 30A stretch. Still, Port A is distinct, a place where a laid back pace of life meets a mashup of island vibes and Texas hospitality.
It has character
Golf carts are a primary mode of transportation. Restaurants include funky beach shacks and long-running local joints. Fishing bait is a common shopping purchase. Live music is an attraction.
