Galveston is a city located in Galveston County Texas. Galveston has a 2024 population of 53,099. It is also the county seat of Galveston County. Galveston is currently declining at a rate of -0.26% annually and its population has decreased by -1.03% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 53,650 in 2020.
The average household income in Galveston is $83,238 with a poverty rate of 19.25%. The median age in Galveston is 39.4 years: 38.8 years for males, and 40 years for females.
Galveston is located in Galveston County, where it serves as the county seat. This coastal city is found on Galveston Island and Pelican Island.
The city’s population, for the most part, has grown since the first census taken in 1850. However, the population declined in 1970 before rising slightly in 1980. A pattern of decline followed according to the census data from 1990 through 2010. However, recent estimates show that the population has grown almost 6% since the last census of 2010, although the current estimate is a far cry from the peak population of 67,175 recorded in 1960.
The city was incorporated in 1839, and during its earliest history was one of the largest ports in the nation. Initially, the first Europeans to inhabit the area were pirates. The Navy took control of the area and established a port that later became the capital of the Republic of Texas.
Today, the city’s economy is centered on health care, tourism, shipping, and finance. It is also known for its historic buildings, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Galveston was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 34,513 | 64.79% |
| Black or African American | 8,427 | 15.82% |
| Two or more races | 7,082 | 13.3% |
| Other race | 1,422 | 2.67% |
| Asian | 1,353 | 2.54% |
| Native American | 287 | 0.54% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 181 | 0.34% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 23,748 | 2.08 | 46.3 | 53.7 |
| Non Family | 11,137 | 1.24 | 33.7 | 66.3 |
| Married | 8,286 | 2.77 | 69 | 31 |
| Female | 3,220 | 2.99 | 37.5 | 62.5 |
| Male | 1,105 | 2.83 | 29 | 71 |
2.76
Average Family Size
2.08
Average Household Size
46.3%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 2,862 | 7.49% |
| Associates Degree | 3,134 | 8.21% |
| Bachelors Degree | 7,555 | 19.78% |
| Graduate Degree | 4,756 | 12.45% |
| High School Graduate | 9,340 | 24.45% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 2,144 | 5.61% |
| Some College | 8,403 | 22% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 20,904 | 19,734 | 8,978 |
| Hispanic | 9,651 | 7,036 | 1,449 |
| Black | 6,060 | 4,967 | 856 |
| 2+ Races | 4,378 | 3,253 | 807 |
| Other Race | 1,010 | 677 | 259 |
| Asian | 861 | 798 | 627 |
| Native American | 233 | 212 | 56 |
| Islander | 93 | 93 | 73 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 78.49%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $58,855 | $58,449 | $59,051 |
| Graduate Degree | $69,431 | $72,808 | $64,668 |
| High School Graduate | $33,736 | $38,309 | $29,420 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $23,525 | $31,263 | $13,710 |
| Overall | $41,406 | $45,594 | $38,140 |
| Some College | $39,098 | $45,773 | $36,448 |
$41,406
Average Earnings
$45,594
Average Male
$38,140
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
73.96% of Galveston residents speak only English, while 26.04% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 20.12% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 14,968 | 3,877 | 25.9% |
| White | 24,833 | 3,195 | 12.87% |
| Black | 7,688 | 1,889 | 24.57% |
| Multiple | 6,606 | 1,882 | 28.49% |
| Other | 1,354 | 430 | 31.76% |
| Asian | 1,221 | 396 | 32.43% |
| Islander | 181 | 119 | 65.75% |
| Native | 247 | 36 | 14.57% |
19.25%
Overall Poverty Rate
18.93%
Male Poverty Rate
19.55%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Galveston is Islander, with 65.75% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Galveston is White, with 12.87% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.42%. Among those working part-time, it was 25.15%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 29.06%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 26.54% |
| High School | 18.13% |
| Some College | 15.1% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 8.33% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Male Unemployed | 41.38% |
| Female Unemployed | 29.91% |
| Male Employed | 9.71% |
| Female Employed | 9.35% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $83,331 | $110,266 |
| Households | $57,453 | $83,238 |
| Married Families | $101,328 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $34,510 | $50,060 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
39.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
39.1%
Male Marriage Rate
39.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
3,304
Number of Veterans
2,971
Male Veterans
333
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 1,342 |
| Second Gulf War | 890 |
| First Gulf War | 581 |
| Korea | 142 |
| World War II | 49 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | 987 |
| 75+ | 677 |
| 35 to 54 | 645 |
| 18 to 34 | 511 |
| 55 to 64 | 484 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 2,139 | 7.21% |
| Black | 779 | 10.93% |
| Hispanic | 513 | 4.28% |
| 2+ Races | 202 | 3.82% |
| Islander | 76 | 50.67% |
| Other Race | 63 | 5.55% |
| Asian | 27 | 2.23% |
| Native American | 18 | 6.59% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
13.91%
Veteran Poverty Rate
33.32%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
58%
Labor Force Participation
53.9%
Employment Rate
6.8%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
60.2%
Born in Galveston
86.92%
Native Born
13.08%
Foreign Born
7.31%
Non Citizen
5.76%
Naturalized
86.92% of Galveston residents were born in the United States, with 60.2% having been born in Texas. 7.31% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 52,411 | -137 | -0.26% |
| 2028 | 52,548 | -138 | -0.26% |
| 2027 | 52,686 | -138 | -0.26% |
| 2026 | 52,824 | -137 | -0.26% |
| 2025 | 52,961 | -138 | -0.26% |
| 2024 | 53,099 | -138 | -0.26% |
| 2023 | 53,237 | 106 | 0.2% |
| 2022 | 53,131 | -250 | -0.47% |
| 2021 | 53,381 | -269 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 53,650 | 3,360 | 6.68% |
| 2019 | 50,290 | -91 | -0.18% |
| 2018 | 50,381 | -207 | -0.41% |
| 2017 | 50,588 | 361 | 0.72% |
| 2016 | 50,227 | 514 | 1.03% |
| 2015 | 49,713 | 443 | 0.9% |
| 2014 | 49,270 | 599 | 1.23% |
| 2013 | 48,671 | 561 | 1.17% |
| 2012 | 48,110 | 549 | 1.15% |
| 2011 | 47,561 | -233 | -0.49% |
| 2010 | 47,794 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 57,247 | -1,823 | -3.09% |
| 1990 | 59,070 | -2,832 | -4.57% |
| 1980 | 61,902 | 93 | 0.15% |
| 1970 | 61,809 | -5,366 | -7.99% |
| 1960 | 67,175 | 607 | 0.91% |
| 1950 | 66,568 | 5,706 | 9.38% |
| 1940 | 60,862 | 7,924 | 14.97% |
| 1930 | 52,938 | 8,683 | 19.62% |
| 1920 | 44,255 | 7,274 | 19.67% |
| 1910 | 36,981 | -808 | -2.14% |
| 1900 | 37,789 | 8,705 | 29.93% |
| 1890 | 29,084 | 6,836 | 30.73% |
| 1880 | 22,248 | 8,430 | 61.01% |
| 1870 | 13,818 | 6,511 | 89.11% |
| 1860 | 7,307 | 3,130 | 74.93% |
| 1850 | 4,177 | -48,234 | -92.03% |