1st Advantage MortgageAbout 68% of Galveston County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $86,105. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Galveston County
- How Galveston County residents earn a living
- Income in Galveston County compared with Texas
- Housing costs in Galveston County
- Places inside Galveston County
- The counties around Galveston County
- A Galveston County household budget, worked through
- More Galveston County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Galveston County
- Checklist for Galveston County applicants
- Lender oversight for Galveston County
- More guides for Galveston County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Galveston County
With an estimated 358,990 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Galveston County ranks 16th of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 379 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 946 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (13 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is League City, with about 116,215 residents, or 32% of the county.
How Galveston County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Galveston County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward education and health care (25% against 22%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Sector | Galveston County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.6% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | -0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Galveston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Galveston County compared with Texas
Galveston County households have a median income of $86,105 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 254 in Texas.
| Households earning | Galveston County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.9% | -4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | +2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.6% | +2.1 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 44% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.7% of Galveston County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.460 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Galveston County median.
Housing costs in Galveston County
A typical Galveston County rental runs $1,404 a month including utilities. By the Census definition, 55% of Galveston County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $314,600, a typical Galveston County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 68% of homes.
| Housing | Galveston County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,404/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $314,600 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 9% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Places inside Galveston County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Galveston County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 353,707 people, so roughly 1% of residents live outside any named place. Tiki Island has the highest median household income on the list ($129,063) and Bacliff the lowest ($51,458), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $989 in San Leon to $2,083 in Bayou Vista. Names with links open a city guide. The other 13 places are covered here.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League City | city | 116,215 | $121,099 | $1,684 | 22 mi |
| Texas City | city | 55,364 | $68,776 | $1,307 | 14 mi |
| Galveston | city | 53,424 | $55,631 | $1,298 | 6 mi |
| Friendswood | city | 41,030 | $126,508 | $1,688 | 27 mi |
| Dickinson | city | 21,753 | $91,779 | $1,231 | 18 mi |
| La Marque | city | 19,268 | $71,102 | $1,443 | 11 mi |
| Santa Fe | city | 12,901 | $99,190 | $1,240 | 17 mi |
| Bacliff | CDP | 9,541 | $51,458 | $1,498 | 20 mi |
| Hitchcock | city | 7,563 | $74,157 | $1,380 | 8 mi |
| San Leon | CDP | 6,458 | $75,446 | $989 | 18 mi |
| Bolivar Peninsula | CDP | 2,951 | $75,547 | $1,648 | 26 mi |
| Kemah | city | 2,168 | $85,357 | $1,775 | 22 mi |
| Bayou Vista | city | 1,754 | $120,455 | $2,083 | 7 mi |
| Tiki Island | village | 1,210 | $129,063 | $1,639 | 5 mi |
The counties around Galveston County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Galveston County's, from 33 to 64 miles away. Income ranges from $60,026 in Jefferson County to $114,041 in Fort Bend County; 3 of these neighbors top Galveston County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galveston County | - | $86,105 | $1,404/mo | 68% |
| Brazoria County, TX | 33 mi | $97,993 | $1,454/mo | 74% |
| Chambers County, TX | 35 mi | $109,804 | $1,609/mo | 82% |
| Harris County, TX | 53 mi | $74,983 | $1,401/mo | 55% |
| Fort Bend County, TX | 57 mi | $114,041 | $1,807/mo | 77% |
| Jefferson County, TX | 62 mi | $60,026 | $1,117/mo | 63% |
| Liberty County, TX | 64 mi | $68,703 | $1,044/mo | 82% |
A Galveston County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Galveston County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,175 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,404 uses 20%
- $1,466: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Galveston County figures
35% of Galveston County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.6%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Residents | Galveston County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.8% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Galveston County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Galveston County
Where the Galveston County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 14% of Galveston County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Galveston County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 55% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Checklist for Galveston County applicants
Steps that save money for Galveston County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Galveston County
Galveston County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
More guides for Galveston County
Guides that cover parts of Galveston County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Galveston County household make?
About $86,105 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% above the Texas median.
How much is rent in Galveston County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,404 a month; 55% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Galveston County?
By population: League City, Texas City, Galveston, Friendswood, Dickinson. The county has 16 Census places in all.
Are Galveston County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Galveston County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.