Galveston County, Texas Income Statistics
Galveston County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Galveston County Around averageWealthier than 94% of counties in Texas
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Galveston County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,798 | $78,939 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $69,298 | $56,913 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.5% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.6% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Galveston County is about 11% higher than in Texas. Income has been growing slower in Galveston County (4.1%/yr) than in Texas (4.6%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Galveston County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Texas average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Galveston County, Texas grew by 60.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $87,798 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Galveston County
| Metric | Galveston County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.561 | 0.570 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $80,235 | $66,147 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $61,168 | $53,058 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.8% | 19.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Galveston County, it is 0.561, lower than Texas's 0.570, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 31% more than women's income in Galveston County, Texas. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $667,345 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Galveston County, Texas has narrowed from about 27% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2017, and was narrowest at 24% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,426 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Galveston County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.7% | 14.4% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 10,269 people are unemployed in Galveston County, Texas.
The average commute time in Galveston County is 23 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Texas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Galveston County, Texas has fallen from 7.7% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.5% in 2023.
Galveston County, TX Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Galveston County, TX is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 358,877 residents against a local median of 253,852. The measure that sets Galveston County, TX apart most is median household income: $87,798, 17% above the local median of $74,984. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 5.7% against a local median of 6.7%, 16% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Galveston County, TX is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $45,504 on median household income, so Galveston County, TX sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Galveston County, TX has the 3rd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galveston County, TX | 358,877 | $87,798 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #2/6 | 5.7% #2/6 | 0.561 #1/6 |
| Chambers County, TX | 51,498 | $105,539 | 5.2%/yr | 7.2% | 0.568 |
| Brazoria County, TX | 391,275 | $98,470 | 3.9%/yr | 4.7% | 0.569 |
| Harris County, TX | 4,837,278 | $74,984 | 3.7%/yr | 6.7% | 0.579 |
| Liberty County, TX | 103,380 | $67,670 | 4.0%/yr | 7.1% | 0.630 |
| Jefferson County, TX | 253,852 | $60,035 | 3.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.591 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Galveston County, Texas has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Texas, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Galveston County, Texas.
How Rich Is Galveston County, Texas?
Galveston County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $87,798, about 11% higher than the Texas average of $78,939.
How fast is household income rising in Galveston County, Texas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Galveston County, Texas rose 60%, from $54,883 to $87,798. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Texas as a whole: +60% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Galveston County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Galveston County, Texas was $86,483, up 2% from $84,601 in 2022. The Texas median that year was $76,528.
What was the median household income in Galveston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Galveston County, Texas was $74,670. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $87,798.
What is the Gini coefficient in Galveston County, Texas?
The Gini coefficient in Galveston County is 0.561. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Galveston County, Texas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Galveston County, Texas has narrowed from about 27% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2017, and was narrowest at 24% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,426 since 2009.
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