What are the schools like in Galveston, TX?

Galveston is served primarily by GALVESTON ISD. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Galveston?

The median household income in Galveston, TX is $57,453 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.8%.

What is the weather like in Galveston, TX?

Galveston has an average high temperature of 63.2°F in January and 91.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

Galveston, TX Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Galveston, TX affordable or expensive?

Galveston's cost of living index is 100, where 100 represents the national average. This means Galveston is 0% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $258,300 and the median rent is $1,200 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Galveston, TX?

Galveston has a violent crime rate of 536.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2380.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Galveston, TX a Good Place to Live?

Galveston is a mid-sized city of 53,265 in Texas, with a median household income of $57,453 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% above the national average.

Strengths: Galveston stands out for solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Galveston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Galveston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.2

Galveston's overall cost of living index is 100.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Galveston costs roughly 0% more than the average American city.

Metric	Galveston, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$258,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,200	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	46.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,453	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Galveston's violent crime rate is 536.7 per 100,000 residents — 41% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

536.7 /100k

Property Crime

2380.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Galveston is served primarily by GALVESTON ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Galveston, TX	National Avg
School District	GALVESTON ISD	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Galveston sees average highs of 63.2°F in January and 91.3°F in July, with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Galveston, TX
Average High — January	63.2°F
Average High — July	91.3°F
Annual Precipitation	47.2"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Galveston, TX	National Avg
Population	53,265	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	64.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	15.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.9%	18.9%
Asian	2.5%	6.3%
Under 18	15.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jamaica Beach, TX 1 mi Hitchcock, TX 7 mi Tiki Island, TX 8 mi Bayou Vista, TX 10 mi La Marque, TX 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Galveston

Galveston, TX is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

77554 77550 77551 77555

Galveston vs Other Cities

Galveston, TX vs Jamaica Beach, TX Galveston, TX vs Hitchcock, TX Galveston, TX vs Tiki Island, TX Galveston, TX vs Bayou Vista, TX Galveston, TX vs La Marque, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Galveston, TX affordable or expensive?

Galveston's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That puts Galveston roughly 0% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $258,300 and median rent is $1,200/month.

What is the crime rate in Galveston, TX?

Galveston's violent crime rate is 536.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2380.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Galveston?

Public schools in Galveston are operated by GALVESTON ISD. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Galveston, TX a good place to live?

Galveston, TX has a population of 53,265, a median household income of $57,453, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Galveston?

Galveston averages 63.2°F in January and 91.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Galveston?

Galveston, TX is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 77554, 77550, 77551, 77555.

What is the population of Galveston?

The population of Galveston, Texas is 53,265 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Galveston?

Key numbers for living in Galveston: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $258,300, median household income $57,453, crime index 130 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Galveston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.