Places › Texas › Galveston

Living in Galveston, TX

Beach town in Texas

Galveston is a beach town in Texas, home to about 53,000 people, with 455,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Galveston a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Dog-friendly: 2 dog parks within 9 mi
  • Great outdoors: coast or a lake close by
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $394k and rents for $2,120 a month
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 1.18% property tax

👎 Cons

  • Fewer graduates: 34% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Fewer family amenities than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Galveston ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
53,000
455,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
64°F / 89°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$394k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,120/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
99
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 1.18% property tax
Safety
1.3× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
11 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, cold waves
Top-rated hospitals
2
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
34%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
HOU
37 mi away

Living in Galveston: common questions

What is the cost of living in Galveston?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $394k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,120 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 99, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Galveston?

Texas has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 1.18% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Galveston safe?

Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.3× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Galveston?

Galveston is warm all year: winter days average around 64°F and summer days around 89°F.

Does Galveston get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, cold waves and hurricanes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.96 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Galveston?

The nearest major airport is HOU, about 37 mi away.

How Galveston scores

Each bar compares Galveston with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Quiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Slow & calm Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Average
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Excellent
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Average
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Average
✈️Airport Good

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Is Galveston right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.