Galveston, TX Local Data & Statistics

State: TX

Total population: 53,424 Household income: $55,631 Rent: $1,298

Overview

Total population

53,424

Rent

$1,298

Year built

1973

Household income

$55,631

Per capita income

$40,926

Poverty rate

21.4%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Household size

2.0 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

Total population

53,424

Adults over 25

39,388

Total households

25,198

Household size

2.0 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$55,631

Per capita income

$40,926

Poverty rate

21.4%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Rent over 30% of income

52.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,298

Year built

1973

Households that rent

53.8%

Households that own

46.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

54.7%

Black

15.4%

Asian

2.8%

Two or more races

22.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

29.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

70.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.8%

Commute time to work

20 mins

Work from home

12.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.9%

High school graduate or GED

22.8%

Some college or associate degree

10.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

36%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Galveston, TX with: Texas United States

Galveston, TX

Total population53,424

Rent$1,298

Year built1973

Household income$55,631

Per capita income$40,926

Poverty rate21.4%

Unemployment rate3.9%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityGalveston, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	53,424	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,298	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1973	1992	1980
Household income	$55,631	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$40,926	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	21.4%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	4.1%	4%

View the complete comparison of Galveston, TX, Texas and United States →

Summary for Galveston, TX

Galveston is located in Texas.

Rent & Income

In Galveston, the typical monthly rent is $1,298 and the typical household income is $55,631. Rent here is lower than in both Texas and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 21.4%, which is higher than in both Texas and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 53.8% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 52.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 36% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is similar to both Texas and the national rate.

Galveston, TX — Rent vs Household Income

Galveston, TX — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Galveston, TX compares in Texas (71 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,298	26 / 71	from lower rent	$923 – $2,231
Household income	$55,631	64 / 71	from higher income	$46,354 – $161,235
Poverty rate	21.4%	62 / 71	from lower poverty	3.6% – 29.2%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	55 / 71	from lower unemployment	2.6% – 8.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Texas with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Galveston, TX

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Galveston places 26th among 71 large places in Texas. Across the state, rents run from $923 in Brownsville, TX up to $2,231 in Flower Mound, TX.

Household income

In terms of household income, Galveston comes in 64th among 71 major places. Across Texas, income levels vary from $46,354 in Port Arthur, TX to $161,235 in Flower Mound, TX.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Galveston ranks 62nd out of 71 large places. Statewide rates vary from 3.6% in Frisco, TX to 29.2% in College Station, TX.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Galveston in 55th place among 71 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.6% in Amarillo, TX to 8.2% in Port Arthur, TX.

💰 Rent in Galveston, TX (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,298 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Galveston, TX

Annual Household Income: $55,631

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Galveston, TX

Estimated Rate: 21.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Galveston, TX

In Galveston, TX, households that rent: 13,544 (53.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	13,544	53.8%
Owner-Occupied	11,654	46.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Galveston, TX

In Galveston, TX, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,168 (52.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,168	52.9%
Other renter households	6,376	47.1%
Total renter households	13,544	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Galveston, TX

Less than High School: 12,178 people (30.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 8,983 people (22.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,053 people (10.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 14,174 people (36%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 39,388

📊 Unemployment Rate in Galveston, TX

Estimated Rate: 3.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Pinellas Park, FL53,423 Wheaton, IL53,453 Oak Park, IL53,315 Spring Hill, TN53,585 Minnetonka, MN53,256 Twin Falls, ID53,219 Huntington Park, CA53,658 Edina, MN53,125 Elkhart, IN53,726 Diamond Bar, CA53,750

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.