Galveston grades D− overall, 587th among Texas's 640 graded towns, mostly because of safety. Its crime rate is higher than 87% of U.S. towns, with 265 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. In its favor, it has 36 miles of trail. History is its standout character grade: an A, better than 94% of U.S. towns, with 74 places on the National Register. 48% of working residents work locally in Galveston, above both the Texas town median (8.3%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Only 18 of Texas’ 999 towns score higher on walkability. Its National Register listings include East End Historic District and Elissa.

StrongestAHistory AOutdoors AWalkabilityWeakestDSafety C⁻Cost of living CHazard risk CJobs & income

What makes Galveston stand out

Where Galveston beats most towns.

Strand Historic District, The

HistoryA

Settled in 1830

A history going back 196 years.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here37,299

Residents who work20,818

Work

1.8 jobs for every working resident

A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 91% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2023.

Strand Historic District, The · National Register of Historic Places

Galveston’s story

196 years in pictures

Strand Historic District, The is one of 3 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1830, comes before those of 98% of the Texas towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 4,177 in 1850, 53,695 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1818 and 6 maps from 1930 on.

74 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1830Galveston is settled

Explore the history →

How Galveston grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Galveston is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.2 of 20; 10.7% of households have no car; 8.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →SafetyDOpen →Cost of livingC⁻Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Jobs & income$56K median household incomeCOpen →SchoolsCOpen →HealthUniversity of Texas Medical Branch Galveston 0 miles awayCOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors4% conserved landAOpen →History41 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life3.6 library visits per resident; 5.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB⁺Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

ClimateMild winters, 90° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market76 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.5–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and 16 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Galveston. Close and well known come first.

All 54 attractions →

in town Theme parkGalveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

in town BeachGalveston Island

in town MuseumUSS Cavalla

in town MuseumUSS Stewart

in town Zoo & aquariumMoody Gardens

in town Ancient siteSS Selma

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: Matthew T Rader, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Galveston Island: NASA, Public domain · USS Cavalla: USN photo courtesy of http://ussubvetsofwwii.org. Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck N, Public domain · USS Stewart: Unknown, Public domain · Moody Gardens: Own work, GFDL · SS Selma: John Wiley User:Jw4nvc - Santa Barbara, California, CC BY 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Galveston: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Galveston, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerEntergy Texas13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Galveston water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpGalveston Transfer StationDrop-offTown site

SchoolsGalveston Independent School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereGalveston County Early Voting ClerkGalveston County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025

ZIP codes77550, 77551, 7755477550 45% · 77551 42% · 77554 13%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Galveston.

Galveston draws workers from League City and beyond, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns.

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C

About half of working residents work right in Galveston

37,299 jobs are based in Galveston, 1.8 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 20.2 minutes, against 26.7 across Texas.

21% of Galveston residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Galveston grew to 37,299 in 2023, 8,130 more than in 2013. The average trip to work in Galveston is 20 minutes.

48%work in town

	Galveston	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	21%	12%	9.6%
Average trip to work	20 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$56,000	$69,000	$80,000
Work from home	12%	9.6%	11%

Where working residents work

In Galveston48%

Houston17%

Texas City3%

Pasadena2%

League City2%

12 mi

median commute distance

37,299

jobs based in Galveston

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 91% of U.S. towns

Full pageGalveston’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here37,299 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work48% work in Galveston Commute times20 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 12 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SchoolsC

Galveston’s public schools trail 68% of Texas districts

Its public schools are run by Galveston ISD. Three of its 15 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

32%of TX districts it outscoresCSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
WeisLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–6	Grades 5–6	844	D
Ball H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,905	C⁺
Oppe ElTop results in townGrades PK–4	Grades PK–4	669	A

Full pageGalveston’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsGALVESTON ISD Vs. the neighborsAhead of all 2 graded neighbors Every school15 schools · Austin El Questions“Are Galveston’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation

SafetyD

Galveston’s grade for safety is a D

Galveston’s violent crime rate is 5 per 1,000 residents. Galveston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 87% report less. Galveston’s property crime rate is 22.5 per 1,000 residents.

13%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

	Galveston	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	5 per 1,000 residents	1.9	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	22.5 per 1,000 residents	10.7	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Galveston5

Texas3.5

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Galveston22.5

Texas18.1

U.S.15.5

13th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

11th

percentile among TX towns

265

violent crimes reported in 2025

1,204

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageGalveston’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type5 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor Questions“Is Galveston, TX safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Who lives here

Fewer children than Texas overall

15% of residents are under 18 in Galveston. 36% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 34% across Texas.

41.5median age · TX 35.6

	Galveston	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Under 18	15%	26%	22%
Aged 65 or older	21%	14%	18%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	36%	23%	29%
Median age	41.5 years	35.8 years	40.5 years

GalvestonTexasUnited States

TXU.S.

Ages · share of residents

17%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma12%

High school23%

Some college21%

Associate’s9%

Bachelor’s21%

Graduate15%

Women and men · all residents

49% women, 51% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.4 points. Across Texas, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 42.4, men 40.9.

Ages and education in Galveston
	Galveston	TX	U.S.
Under 10	8.6%	13.3%	11.6%
10 to 17	6.2%	11.7%	10.3%
18 to 24	11.5%	9.7%	9.1%
25 to 34	16.6%	14.5%	13.7%
35 to 44	10.5%	14.1%	13.2%
45 to 54	10.3%	12.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	15.4%	11.1%	12.7%
65 to 74	13.3%	8.2%	10.2%
75 and older	7.6%	5.2%	7%
No diploma	11.8%	14%	10.4%
High school	22.8%	24.3%	26%
Some college	21%	20.1%	19.1%
Associate’s	8.5%	7.7%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	20.8%	21.5%	21.6%
Graduate	15.2%	12.3%	14.1%

Full pageGalveston by the numbersOpen the page

Ages41.5 median age · 21% are 65 or older Schooling36% have a four-year degree Homes46% own their home · Homeowners Income$56K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

HealthC

Galveston is less healthy than 67% of U.S. towns

Against the 7,621 U.S. towns with household incomes like Galveston’s, it is healthier than 59%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.

Galveston beats the Texas average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 7.

33%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Galveston	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	15%	13%	12%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	40%	35%	35%
No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES)	18%	18%	8.1%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	21%	20%	14%

31 measures vs. Texas

1 better23 too close to call7 worse

What stands out	Galveston	TX
More adults treating high blood pressure	78.1%	74.1%
More adults with COPD	7.6%	5.7%

University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston

In Galveston · emergency room

1 of 3

care shortages: mental health

47th

percentile among TX towns

Full pageGalveston’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearbyUniversity of Texas Medical Branch Galveston How adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distress Every CDC estimateBetter than TX on 1 of 31

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C

Galveston faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

14,754 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 655 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 14,754 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Galveston.

69risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold wavesHurricanes

14,754

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageGalveston’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims14,754 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters10 federal disasters · Paid out in Galveston Get ready2.9 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

A typical July afternoon in Galveston is 89°F, against 95°F in Texas’ towns and 85°F across U.S. towns

January nights average 47.6°, milder than in 98% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 89.2°. The Galveston Scholes Fld weather station, 9 miles away, records that about 66 days a year reach 90°: more than most of the country, but fewer than 99% of Texas places with climate records.

Of the 642 Texas towns we compare, none has a lower July high than Galveston. Galveston has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Snow is almost unheard of.

90°summer high

	Galveston	Texas towns	U.S. towns
January low	48°F	37°F	22°F
July high	89°F	95°F	85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter50–64°

Spring64–76°

Summer78–89°

Fall66–79°

+1.4°

vs. the 20th-century average

90°

typical summer high

Full pageGalveston’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 89°, January lows 48°Rain & snow52″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingMostly a cooling bill Then and now+1.4° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

OutdoorsA

3.6% of Galveston is conserved land

The biggest place to walk is Galveston Island State Park, 1,928 acres with 9.1 miles of trail.

#335for trails in TX

	Galveston	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	0.2 miles per square mile	0.3	0.4
Conserved land	3.6%	1.9%	4.3%

3.6%

conserved · 4,818 of 134,833 acres

36 mi

of trails · 0.2 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Galveston Island State Park	9.1 mi	1,928
2. Kempner Park	0.3 mi	4
3. East End Lagoon Nature Perserve	0.1 mi	551

Full pageGalveston’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map36 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk9.1 miles of trail · Galveston Island State Park Conserved land3.6% conserved · 4,818 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Galveston?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

HousingCost of living grade C⁻

A typical Galveston home is worth about $315K

The typical value, about $315K, is 16% below its August 2022 peak.

The typical Galveston home is worth about $315,000, down 4.1% in a year, 6% above the Texas typical home.

$315KZillow home value

	Galveston	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	46%	69%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	58%	50%	48%
Median rent	$1,298 a month	$1,206 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Galveston$315K

Texas$296K

Market temperature

days on market

95.1%

sale-to-list price

−4.1%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageGalveston’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 4.1% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 5.7 years of income Rents$1,298 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 2 graded neighbors

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Galveston

20pages on Galveston

The big questions

SchoolsCBehind 68% of TX districts · 15 schools SafetyD5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than TX on 1 of 31 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁻$315K typical home · down 4.1% in a year Work & commuteC$56K median household income · 37,299 jobs here Natural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 69% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA36 mi of trails · 4% conserved land PlacesAttractions54 nearby · Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier under 1 mi LibraryB⁺3.6 library visits per resident CollegesGalveston College, in town

The story

HistoryASettled 1830 · 74 on the National Register Famous people41 born in Galveston Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 52 residents Climate90° summer highs

Day to day

News7 recent stories about Galveston WeatherHandbookZIP code 77550, 77551, 77552 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

3 within 15 miles of the center of Galveston

The University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonUniversity or college · Public · GalvestonIn town Galveston CollegeCommunity college · Public · GalvestonIn town$2,726 in-state tuition College of the MainlandCommunity college · Public · Texas City14.6 mi$2,310 in-state tuition

About 11 of every 100 Galveston residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

36 miles of trails in Galveston

3.6% of the town is conserved land, across 19 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Galveston

ConservedTrails

Galveston Island State Park9.1 mi of trails · 1,928 acres

Directions

Kempner Park0.3 mi of trails · 4 acres

Directions

East End Lagoon Nature Perserve0.1 mi of trails · 551 acres

Directions

Landmarks

74 places in Galveston on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Strand Historic District, TheNational Historic Landmark

East End Historic DistrictNational Historic Landmark

ElissaNational Historic Landmark

Ashbel Smith Building

Famous people from Galveston

41 notable people were born in Galveston.

See all 41 →

Barry WhiteAmerican soul singer · 1944–2003

King VidorAmerican film director, film producer, and screenwriter · 1894–1982

Jack JohnsonAmerican boxer · 1878–1946

Liana LiberatoAmerican actress · born 1995

Valerie PerrineAmerican actress · 1943–2026

Katherine HelmondAmerican actress · 1929–2019

About Galveston

City in Texas, United States

Official town website ↗

Galveston ( GAL-vis-tən) is a resort city and port on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Texas. It encompasses 211.31 square miles (547.3 km2) on Galveston Island and Pelican Island. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 53,695, making it the second-largest municipality in Galveston County, where it also serves as the county seat. Located at the southern end of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, Galveston sits on the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston, or Galvez's town, was named after 18th-century Spanish military and political leader Bernardo de Gálvez, 1st Count of Gálvez (1746–1786). The first European settlements on Galveston Island were built around…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1785
Area: 209 sq mi
Elevation: 7 ft
ZIP code: 77550, 77551, 77552
Area code: 409

Galveston’s neighbors

2 towns share a border with Galveston.

Explore the map →

Texas CityTiki IslandGalveston

Texas City

N · 3% of Galveston workers commute here

Visit

Tiki Island

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	TX rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Galveston	#587	D⁻	C⁻	D	C	C
Texas City	#520	D	C⁺	C⁻	C	C⁻
Tiki Island	—	—	D	—	D	B⁺

Tiki Island has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Tiki Island reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Galveston with a neighbor →

Questions about Galveston

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Galveston, TX a good place to live?

Galveston grades D− overall, better than 4% of U.S. towns and #587 of 640 in Texas. It grades C for health, D for safety and C for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Galveston, TX expensive?

Yes. That is 3.8 years of the area's median household income ($82,168 across the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.

What is Galveston, TX known for?

41 notable people were born here, including Barry White and King Vidor.

Post to Galveston

Check your email

GalvestonTX

Is Galveston a good place to live?

What makes Galveston stand out

Jobs vs. working residents

196 years in pictures

How Galveston grades

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and 16 more within 40 miles

Moving to Galveston: who provides what

The data

About half of working residents work right in Galveston

Where working residents work

Galveston’s public schools trail 68% of Texas districts

Galveston’s grade for safety is a D

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Fewer children than Texas overall

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

Women and men · all residents

Galveston is less healthy than 67% of U.S. towns

Galveston faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

A typical July afternoon in Galveston is 89°F, against 95°F in Texas’ towns and 85°F across U.S. towns

Typical low → high °F

3.6% of Galveston is conserved land

A typical Galveston home is worth about $315K

Typical home value

Everything we know about Galveston

Colleges nearby

36 miles of trails in Galveston

Landmarks

Famous people from Galveston

About Galveston

Galveston’s neighbors

Questions about Galveston