Beaumont TX vs San Marcos TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Beaumont, TX

Texas · Population: 113,710

  • Median HH Income$57,530
  • Median Home Price$170,393
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+25.2%

San Marcos, TX

Texas · Population: 99,507

  • Median HH Income$64,146
  • Median Home Price$313,452
  • Unemployment3.2%
  • Bachelor's+24.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Beaumont
113,710
Beaumont +
San Marcos
99,507
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Beaumont
N/A
San Marcos
N/A
Median Age
Beaumont
35.3
San Marcos
35.2
San Marcos +
Foreign Born
Beaumont
10.8%
Beaumont +
San Marcos
5.8%
White
Beaumont
33.9%
San Marcos
66.6%
San Marcos +
Black
Beaumont
44.9%
Beaumont +
San Marcos
4.3%
Asian
Beaumont
3.5%
Beaumont +
San Marcos
1.4%
Hispanic
Beaumont
20.8%
San Marcos
42.2%
San Marcos +
Spanish at Home
Beaumont
N/A
San Marcos
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Beaumont
$57,530
San Marcos
$64,146
San Marcos +
Per Capita Income
Beaumont
$32,993
San Marcos
$33,835
San Marcos +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Beaumont
$63,758
San Marcos
$63,758
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Beaumont
5.3%
San Marcos
3.2%
San Marcos +
Poverty Rate
Beaumont
19.8%
San Marcos
11.9%
San Marcos +
Bachelor's Degree+
Beaumont
25.2%
Beaumont +
San Marcos
24.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Beaumont
$170,393
Beaumont +
San Marcos
$313,452
Homeownership Rate
Beaumont
54.2%
San Marcos
63.3%
San Marcos +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Beaumont
442
San Marcos
442
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Beaumont
2339
San Marcos
2339
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Beaumont
42.1%
San Marcos
33.6%
San Marcos +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Beaumont
16.3%
San Marcos
7.9%
San Marcos +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Beaumont
18.9%
Beaumont +
San Marcos
22.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Beaumont
17.6%
Beaumont +
San Marcos
19.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Beaumont
14.4%
Beaumont +
San Marcos
19.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Beaumont
16.0%
San Marcos
11.0%
San Marcos +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Beaumont
68.6°F
San Marcos
68.5°F
San Marcos +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Beaumont
60.4 in
San Marcos
35.7 in
San Marcos +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Beaumont
9.2 µg/m³
San Marcos
9.2 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Beaumont
55.0%
San Marcos
55.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Beaumont
22.3 min
San Marcos
19.0 min
San Marcos +

Which City is Right for You?

San Marcos leads in median household income at $64,146, while beaumont offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $170,393. On public safety, San Marcos is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Beaumont. San Marcos has a lower unemployment rate at 3.2%, and San Marcos has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Marcos scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Beaumont & San Marcos