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Galveston County, TX: population growth, jobs and income

Galveston County gained 4,840 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+1.3%).

Galveston County had an estimated 372,207 residents in 2025, up 5.9% (20,621 more people) since 2020. That is slower than Texas as a whole (+8.5%), and the 80th fastest growth of 246 counties in Texas.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Galveston County report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Galveston County, ranked against Texas and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$1,404/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes13.1%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months2,4922025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration added 3,422 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 95,225 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +11.1% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 4.4% in 2025, 0.4 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 2,525 new homes in 2025, or 6.8 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $86,105 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +15.4% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 518th.

Part of the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area.

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Galveston County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
2025372,207+4,840
2024367,367+5,104
2023362,263+4,516
2022357,747+2,077
2021355,670+4,084
2020351,586–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Galveston County

Galveston County grew by 20,621 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+13,615).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths+707+2,692
International migrationfrom and to other countries+726+4,455
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+3,422+13,615
Census adjustmentbalancing residual−15−141
Total change+4,840+20,621

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn TexasAmong U.S. counties
Population growth80th of 246518th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents65th of 246603rd of 3,108
Private-sector job growth75th of 245598th of 3,092
Median household income27th of 246399th of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate172nd of 2462,059th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents34th of 223365th of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

Get the county report — $99

The County Growth and Demographics Report for Galveston County, TX as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Harris County and Brazoria County reports too, $149 for all 3.

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Neighbouring counties

Galveston County grew more slowly than all 3 of its neighbouring counties (+5.9%, 2020–25).

2 of its 3 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Galveston County's $86,105 (2020–24).

Galveston County, TX and its 3 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Galveston County, TX This county372,207+5.9%9.26.8$86,105
Brazoria County, TX419,080+12.2%11.66.7$97,993
Harris County, TX5,045,026+6.6%−8.66.1$74,983
Chambers County, TX57,594+22.6%21.59.8$109,804

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 254 Texas counties · Every state

Questions

Is Galveston County growing?

Yes. Its population grew 5.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 20,621 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Texas as a whole changed +8.5% over the same years. That ranks 80th of 246 counties in Texas for population growth.

How many people moved to Galveston County?

On net, about 3,422 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in Galveston County?

It averaged 4.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Galveston County?

About 372,207 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Galveston County?

Private employers there had 95,225 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +11.1% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Texas

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Texas county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

Galveston County data alerts

Email me when Galveston County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Galveston County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.