San Marcos, TX
Census place 4865600 · pop 70,897
Home of Texas State University and the spring-fed San Marcos River, a magnet for tubers.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
30.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
22.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
26.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
19.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
85.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$51,281 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.54% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.46 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$310,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
25.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
33.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
82/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
38.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
11.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,410/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+12.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Not measured for San Marcos: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is San Marcos, TX a good place to live?
- By the numbers, San Marcos scores 43/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is homeownership. Texas overall ranks #38 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is San Marcos, TX expensive to live in?
- San Marcos has a median home value of $310,400 and typical rent around $1,410/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in San Marcos, TX?
- Its weakest measured area is homeownership (30.8%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is San Marcos, TX best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+12.1%) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of Texas State University and the spring-fed San Marcos River, a magnet for tubers.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.