Galveston is a barrier-island city on the Gulf of Mexico, about 50 miles southeast of downtown Houston at the end of I-45. It has a long history as a port and resort town, with Victorian architecture along the Strand, beaches along the Seawall and the University of Texas Medical Branch as a major employer. Texas City, on the mainland across Galveston Bay, is an industrial and port city with its own neighborhoods and a 5-mile dike reaching into the bay.
Galveston and Texas City at a glance
The Galveston Seawall runs about 10 miles along Seawall Boulevard, with beaches, restaurants and the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier along it. The Strand Historic District, near the harbor, preserves Victorian-era commercial buildings now filled with shops, galleries and restaurants. The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) anchors the east end of the island. Moody Gardens, with its aquarium and rainforest pyramids, is on the west side near the airport. In Texas City, the Texas City Dike extends about 5 miles into Galveston Bay and is popular for fishing.
On our site, the area covers ZIP codes 77550, 77551, 77554 and 77590. The Census figures below use the City of Galveston, from the American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020–2024).
Getting around
Walk Score rates Galveston 54 out of 100 ("Somewhat Walkable"), with a Bike Score of 57, at the time of writing. The historic core near the Strand, downtown and UTMB is compact and walkable, and the flat island is easy to bike. The west end is more spread out.
The city's Island Transit runs local buses, plus trolley service on the Seawall and downtown routes. TxDOT operates the Galveston–Port Bolivar Ferry around the clock with no toll. For trips to the mainland, I-45 crosses the causeway toward Texas City, League City and Houston, and SH 146 links Texas City with Kemah and the Bay Area. The Census puts mean travel time to work at 20.2 minutes for the City of Galveston, among the shortest in our coverage area. A daily commute to Houston is a long drive, so test it before you sign.
What's nearby
Beaches and attractions. The Seawall's beaches, the Pleasure Pier's rides and games, Moody Gardens and Galveston Island State Park, with beach and bay habitats, camping and trails.
History. The Strand Historic District and the surrounding downtown blocks.
Food. Gaido's, a seafood restaurant on Seawall Boulevard, has been open since 1911. The Houston Chronicle's guide to the best Galveston restaurants also includes The Fancy (Gulf seafood) on Seawall Boulevard, Maceo Spice & Import Co. (a Cajun-Italian deli) on Market Street and Shucks Tavern and Oyster Bar on 21st Street.
The rental landscape
- Garden-style communities on the island and in Texas City, many from earlier decades, with newer communities in some areas.
- Historic homes and conversions near downtown and the East End, including houses divided into apartments.
- Condos and beach homes leased by individual owners, especially along the Seawall and the west end. Some are used as short-term vacation rentals, so confirm a 12-month lease is available.
The Census reports a median gross rent of $1,298 a month for the City of Galveston (ACS 2024 5-year), and about 54% of its occupied homes were renter-occupied. Gross rent is the Census measure of contract rent plus estimated utilities, and it covers every rented home in the ZIP, from older duplexes to new towers, so treat it as a baseline rather than a quote for any one building. Call us for current pricing.
Tips for renting in Galveston and Texas City
- Read the flood disclosure carefully. Texas Property Code §92.0135 requires landlords to tell you in writing whether a unit is in a 100-year floodplain and whether it has flooded in the past five years. On an island, ask about storm surge history and whether the unit is elevated.
- Get flood coverage. Standard renters insurance generally excludes flood and may limit wind damage. Ask your insurer about separate flood coverage for your belongings.
- Ask about hurricane procedures. Find out what the lease says about evacuations, storm shutters and repairs after a storm.
- Confirm the lease type. For condos and beach homes, make sure the owner offers a standard 12-month lease, not a seasonal or short-term rental.
- Check parking and elevation. In historic neighborhoods, ask where you will park and whether the street floods in heavy rain.
- Read concessions as effective rent in larger communities, and ask which lease terms qualify.
Start your search in Galveston and Texas City
Our neighborhood guide to Galveston and Texas City maps every 4-star-and-above building we work with in the area. When you are ready, tell us your budget, move date and must-haves on Find Your Apartment, or call us at (713) 357-6339. We do in one conversation what takes most renters weeks on their own — and the properties pay us, so it costs you nothing.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galveston_Seawall
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strand_Historic_District
- www.utmb.edu/
- www.moodygardens.com/
- www.pleasurepier.com/
- tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/galveston-island
- www.walkscore.com/TX/Galveston
- www.galvestontx.gov/393/Transportation
- www.txdot.gov/discover/ferry-boat-schedules/galveston-port-bolivar-fer
- www.houstonchronicle.com/project/best-galveston-restaurants/
- www.fema.gov/flood-insurance
- censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B25064&geo_ids=16000US4828068
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.92.htm