What it's like to live in La Marque
La Marque is a small city in Texas with home prices that remain within reach, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. La Marque deals with crime rates above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Very rainy — 60" of rain per year
How La Marque compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to La Marque
Based on La Marque's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,886
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,720 a year
- 58% of La Marque renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$41,380
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,690
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,443/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,443 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $206,900. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $206,900 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Galveston County is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Galveston County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 28% above US
421 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1976/100k · La Marque Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 48°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 36% below US
23% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 23%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Big Thicket National Preserve (84 miles away).
Bottom line
La Marque's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,443/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near La Marque
All Texas guides →Moving to Texas City →
8 mi away · pop. 55,364
Rent $1,307/mo · Income $68,776
Compare with La Marque →Moving to League City →
11 mi away · pop. 116,215
Rent $1,684/mo · Income $121,099
Compare with La Marque →Not sure La Marque is the one?
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