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Living in
Galveston.
About
Life in Galveston
Living in Galveston means accepting a coastal lifestyle where hurricanes are genuinely part of the conversation—the island sits in an active windstorm zone and storm surge remains a persistent concern even with ongoing discussions about coastal barriers. The climate is humid subtropical with summers regularly hitting the low 90s and nighttime lows around 80 degrees, while winters stay mild; rainfall averages over 40 inches annually, sometimes significantly more. That said, the job market is reasonably stable with a 4.2% unemployment rate, median household income around $56,000, and a healthy tourism and medical sector that provides steady work, though wages aren't particularly high.
Galveston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.4%
Foreign-Born
13.5%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Galveston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Galveston, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (28.3%), and 19.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.7%
of residents
65 and Older
20.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
16.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.2%
of households
Married Couples
34.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.98
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Galveston
In Galveston, rent runs 7% below the TX average, and home values are 15% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,510
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
29.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $315,114 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Galveston
Unemployment in Galveston is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Galveston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.2 min avg
How Galveston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Galveston, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 37 mi
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 57 mi
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Major hub23.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 54% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Galveston runs 54% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
506.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,268.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Galveston Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Galveston County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Galveston County, which includes Galveston, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Rip Current | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $301,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Drought | $41,500 |
| 2021 | 15 | Rip Current | $13.3M |
| 2020 | 11 | Funnel Cloud | $16,510 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Flash Flood | $1.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Galveston County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Galveston County, which includes Galveston, is typically good — 218 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
218
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Galveston County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 51°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Galveston has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and warm winters (avg low 51°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/65°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/79°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/68°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/51°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
66
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
95
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 49°F | 4.30" |
| Feb | 66°F | 52°F | 2.14" |
| Mar | 72°F | 58°F | 3.02" |
| Apr | 78°F | 65°F | 2.06" |
| May | 84°F | 72°F | 3.04" |
| Jun | 90°F | 78°F | 4.23" |
| Jul | 91°F | 80°F | 3.41" |
| Aug | 92°F | 80°F | 4.71" |
| Sep | 89°F | 76°F | 6.65" |
| Oct | 82°F | 69°F | 5.15" |
| Nov | 72°F | 59°F | 4.28" |
| Dec | 66°F | 52°F | 4.23" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Galveston
Galveston has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
16.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Childrens
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Galveston
Galveston's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Galveston
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Public · 4-year · 545 students · 93% graduate · median earnings $98,687 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 3,368 students · in-state tuition $2,310 · 34% graduate · median earnings $45,131 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Thicket National Preserve, 88 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Galveston
Galveston has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Thicket National Preserve (88 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Thicket National Preserve
National Preserve
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Galveston
Rosenberg Library
2310 Sealy St, Galveston
Cities Near Galveston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Galveston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Galveston FAQ
Is Galveston, Texas affordable?⌄
Galveston's median rent is $1,298/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $55,631/year. Median home value is $326,000.
Is Galveston, Texas safe?⌄
Galveston's violent crime rate was 506 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2269 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Galveston, Texas?⌄
Galveston has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Galveston, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Galveston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,298/month and median household income is $55,631/year. The median home value is $326,000. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Galveston, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Galveston is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from