What it's like to live in San Marcos
San Marcos is a smaller city in Texas with unemployment below the national average, a highly educated workforce, 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. San Marcos deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How San Marcos compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to San Marcos
Based on San Marcos's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,644
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,880 a year
- 62% of San Marcos renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$62,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,040
- Homes cost 6.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,322/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,322 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $310,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $310,400 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 28% above US
422 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 1940/100k · San Marcos Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 95°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 41°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. 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 El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail (39 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
San Marcos's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,322/mo) equals 31% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. Whether it fits comes down to the specifics: the neighborhood, the job, and what matters most in the move.
Other places near San Marcos
All Texas guides →Moving to Lockhart →
15 mi away · pop. 15,326
Rent $1,152/mo · Income $68,400
Compare with San Marcos →Moving to New Braunfels →
16 mi away · pop. 104,643
Rent $1,654/mo · Income $86,021
Compare with San Marcos →Not sure San Marcos is the one?
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