Cost of Living in Galveston County, Texas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Galveston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Galveston County ranks #2,881 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Galveston County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach 1,595 Dollars
In Galveston County, median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,595, which is $718 above the Texas unweighted county mean of $877. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 32.6%, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of 26.9% by 5.7 percentage points. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,404 per month, compared to a state unweighted mean of $995. For homeowners, the median home value was $314,600, significantly above the Texas unweighted county mean of $185,237. Median income for renter households was $50,905, while the median income for all households was $86,105. These figures detail the financial commitments for housing across the county. See ACS table B25088 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Galveston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.6% of renter household income in Galveston County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,404 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,595. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $56,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Texas unweighted mean of county median rents is $995 per month. Galveston County's $1,404 median is 41.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Galveston County
Rent Burden
19.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,009
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.2%
of gross income
The median home in Galveston County may be a stretch
Median home value is $314,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,512 vs. your max of $2,009.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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