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Is San Marcos, TX a Good Place to Live?
San Marcos is a mid-sized city of 67,143 in Texas, with a median household income of $47,394 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.
Strengths: San Marcos stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether San Marcos is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All San Marcos 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: 97.6San Marcos's overall cost of living index is 97.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in San Marcos costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
| Metric | San Marcos, TX | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $248,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,251 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $47,394 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageSan Marcos's violent crime rate is 358.9 per 100,000 residents — 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
San Marcos is served primarily by SAN MARCOS CISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | San Marcos, TX | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | SAN MARCOS CISD | — |
| Elementary Schools | 7 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 14.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.7% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 90.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
San Marcos sees average highs of 62.3°F in January and 95.7°F in July, with 36.6 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | San Marcos, TX |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 62.3°F |
| Average High — July | 95.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | San Marcos, TX | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,143 | — |
| Median Age | 25.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 66.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 6.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.9% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 9.4% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in San Marcos
San Marcos, TX is covered by 2 ZIP codes: