City · Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston, city, in Galveston County, Texas. Galveston had 53,636 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 53,695 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 53,424 (±36). GEOID 4828068.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
53,636
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 53,695 · ACS 2020-2024: 53,424 ±36
Median household income
$55,631
±$3,927 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$326,000
±$18,654 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$1,298
±$40 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
Where is Galveston and what county is it in?
Galveston is a city in Galveston County, Texas. It covers 41.0 square miles of land, 1,308 residents per square mile in 2020.
Galveston is in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 10 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Galveston, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 53,636 people lived in Galveston on July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, while Texas grew 8.8%. The 2020 Census counted 53,695 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 53,424 (±36).
| Measure | Galveston | Galveston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 53,424 ±36 | 358,990 | +3,183 |
| Households | 25,198 ±603 | 140,660 | +4,442 |
| Average household size | 1.98 ±0.05 | 2.51 | −0.26 |
| Housing units | 35,776 ±525 | 161,868 | +4,276 |
Galveston's population since 2000
From 57,247 in 2000 to 53,636 in 2025: down 6.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Galveston as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Galveston?
The median resident of Galveston is 41.5 years old; 14.7% are under 18 and 20.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 49.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 29.3%. 13.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Galveston | Galveston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 ±1.9 | 38.8 | +2.6 |
| Under 18 years | 14.7% ±1.2 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.9% ±1.4 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Male | 50.6% ±1.4 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 29.3% ±2.2 pts | 26.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 49.8% ±2.3 pts | 54.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 15.0% ±1.3 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±0.6 pts | 3.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±0.6 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.5% ±1.4 pts | 10.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 25.4% ±2.2 pts | 20.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6% ±0.8 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 18.8% ±1.3 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 16.5% ±1.8 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.2% ±1.4 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.0% ±2.3 pts | 34.8% | +6.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.2% ±1.5 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 76.3% ±1.9 pts | 86.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9% ±0.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Galveston earn?
Half of Galveston's 25,198 households earn less than $55,631 a year (±$3,927), against $86,105 in Galveston County and $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $60,697 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 21.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Galveston | Galveston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,631 ±$3,927 | $86,105 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $85,478 ±$4,536 | $114,254 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,926 ±$1,995 | $44,946 | +$3,506 |
| People below the poverty line | 21.4% ±2.5 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 35.7% ±6.6 pts | 14.6% | +9.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.7% ±1.5 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.1% ±1.0 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.3% ±1.2 pts | 93.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Galveston?
Owners occupy 46.2% of Galveston's occupied homes and renters 53.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $326,000 by its owner (±$18,654). The median renter pays $1,298 a month including utilities, and 47.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Galveston | Galveston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $326,000 ±$18,654 | $314,600 | +$101,029 |
| Median gross rent | $1,298 ±$40 | $1,404 | +$78 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.3% ±4.4 pts | 45.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,191 ±$131 | $2,245 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 46.2% ±1.9 pts | 67.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.8% ±1.9 pts | 32.4% | – |
| Housing units | 35,776 ±525 | 161,868 | +4,276 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.4% ±1.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 14.1% ±2.4 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 56.3% ±1.9 pts | 71.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±0.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.8% ±1.3 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.1% ±1.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.7% ±1.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Galveston building?
Builders took permits for 254 new housing units in Galveston in 2025 (254 in single-family houses), 4.7 per 1,000 residents against 6.6 across Texas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Galveston work and get to work?
69.1% of Galveston's workers drive alone and 12.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Galveston | Galveston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.6% ±1.9 pts | 63.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±1.4 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.1% ±2.5 pts | 77.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.9% ±1.3 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 5.4% ±1.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.2% ±1.8 pts | 11.7% | +7.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.2 min ±1.2 | 27.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Galveston?
24 census tracts lie mostly in Galveston, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $24,655 (Tract 7246) to $121,454 (Tract 7261.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7258Galveston County | 4,976 | $68,750 |
| Tract 7254Galveston County | 3,921 | $55,192 |
| Tract 7243Galveston County | 3,680 | $53,589 |
| Tract 7256Galveston County | 3,628 | $41,856 |
| Tract 7240Galveston County | 3,505 | $27,083 |
| Tract 7242Galveston County | 3,156 | $46,211 |
| Tract 7244Galveston County | 3,102 | $53,212 |
| Tract 7259Galveston County | 2,722 | $56,571 |
| Tract 7257Galveston County | 2,443 | $110,352 |
| Tract 7253Galveston County | 2,227 | $74,674 |
| Tract 7250Galveston County | 2,102 | $47,250 |
| Tract 7246Galveston County | 2,087 | $24,655 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Galveston) · Census block assignment files
How does Galveston compare with other places in Texas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Galveston is the 767th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 73rd-most populous of 1,224 in Texas.
Galveston ranks 668th of 933 places in Texas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 73rd | 1,224 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 585th | 784 |
| Residents per square mile | 382nd | 979 |
| Median household income | 668th | 933 |
| Per capita income | 258th | 978 |
| Median home value | 219th | 950 |
| Median gross rent | 307th | 852 |
| Poverty rate | 198th | 716 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 213th | 877 |
| Median age | 240th | 973 |
| Owner-occupied share | 934th | 973 |
| Work from home | 280th | 557 |
| Travel time to work | 772nd | 976 |
Galveston's figures with every place in Texas (CSV)
Every place in Texas, sortable · Compare Galveston with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Galveston?
3 of the 57 figures for Galveston on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Galveston are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Galveston.