City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Galveston, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Galveston - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

53,348
Residents
$57,216
Median income
$294,300
Median home
$1,573
Median rent (state)

Galveston - the verdict

Nationally, Galveston sits in the 31st percentile for household income and the 17th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

31st
percentile, household income
64th
percentile, home value
62nd
percentile, median rent
17th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Galveston, TX

Texas's Galveston is a small city, with 53,348 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Galveston households earn a median of $57,216 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.4%. Galveston's housing stock carries a median value of $294,300, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. About 33.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 53.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 279 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 75% from five years earlier. Galveston's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2917.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 71.4°F.

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Texas scores 97.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,573 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Texas's average monthly utility costs around $223 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 95.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

53,348 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$57,216 /yr

Poverty 13.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Galveston compare to other US cities?

Where Galveston sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 64% pricier than other cities
Median rent 62% pricier than other cities
Safety 17% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, Galveston ranks #554 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Galveston's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Texas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

31stIncome percentile
17thSafety percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income · 17th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Galveston's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Galveston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 28 Avg. percentile National median
Galveston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Galveston's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$294,300 36th percentile more affordable than 36% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Galveston $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Galveston, TX Galveston, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Galveston, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Galveston, TX median $57,216/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Galveston, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Galveston, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 33.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
53,348
Median Income
$57,216
Median Home Value
$294,300
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Labor force participation
53.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
33.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2917.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
536.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2380.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
71.4°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
14
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
53,000 residents53,200 residents53,400 residents53,600 residents53,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 53,657 residents 53,636 residents ▼ -0.0%
Galveston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
279
housing units authorized
Single-Family
279
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 159
2020 237
2021 251
2022 215
2023 289
2024 279

Permit volume increased 75% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.4%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
5.8%
Work from Home
11.3%
Other
4.5%

Based on 24,178 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Galveston sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,573/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Texas City
54,159 people
Kyle
52,439 people
Little Elm
51,426 people
Burleson
50,981 people
Port Arthur
55,779 people
Grapevine
50,875 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Galveston's 53,348 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Aloha, OR
53,362 people
Oak Park, IL
53,315 people
Pinellas Park, FL
53,423 people
Minnetonka, MN
53,256 people
Wheaton, IL
53,453 people
Twin Falls, ID
53,219 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Galveston's $57,216 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Newport, OR
$57,213 median income
Absarokee, MT
$57,212 median income
Hamburg, PA
$57,212 median income
Linden, TN
$57,212 median income
Edna, KS
$57,222 median income
Stanton, ND
$57,222 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Galveston, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Galveston, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 61.4% 14.6% 17.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 29.7% White 61.4% Black or African American 14.6% Asian 2.8% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 3.2% Two or more races 17.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Galveston compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Galveston (this city) 53,348 $57,216
Texas City 54,159 $65,447
Kyle 52,439 $89,645
Little Elm 51,426 $116,036
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Galveston, TX?

What is the population of Galveston, TX? +

Galveston, TX has a population of 53,348 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Galveston, TX? +

Median annual household income in Galveston runs $57,216, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Galveston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Galveston; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Galveston, TX safe? +

Galveston has a total crime rate of 2917.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Galveston, TX? +

A typical home in Galveston is worth $294,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Galveston? +

Galveston has an average annual temperature of 71.4°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.