CityCompare

San Marcos TX vs West Palm Beach FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

San Marcos, TX

Texas · Population: 99,507

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

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
San Marcos
99,507
West Palm Beach
119,508
West Palm Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
San Marcos
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
San Marcos
35.2
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
40.2
Foreign Born
San Marcos
5.8%
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
White
San Marcos
66.6%
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Black
San Marcos
4.3%
West Palm Beach
31.5%
West Palm Beach +
Asian
San Marcos
1.4%
West Palm Beach
2.5%
West Palm Beach +
Hispanic
San Marcos
42.2%
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
24.6%
Spanish at Home
San Marcos
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
San Marcos
$64,146
West Palm Beach
$69,261
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Income
San Marcos
$33,835
West Palm Beach
$44,508
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
San Marcos
$63,758
West Palm Beach
$65,328
West Palm Beach +
Unemployment Rate
San Marcos
3.2%
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
5.4%
Poverty Rate
San Marcos
11.9%
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
14.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
San Marcos
24.9%
West Palm Beach
37.6%
West Palm Beach +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
San Marcos
$313,452
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Homeownership Rate
San Marcos
63.3%
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
50.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Marcos
442
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Marcos
2339
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
San Marcos
33.6%
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
San Marcos
7.9%
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
San Marcos
22.3%
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
San Marcos
19.7%
West Palm Beach
16.9%
West Palm Beach +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
San Marcos
19.7%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
San Marcos
11.0%
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
13.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Marcos
68.5°F
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Marcos
35.7 in
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
62.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
San Marcos
9.2 µg/m³
West Palm Beach
7.2 µg/m³
West Palm Beach +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
San Marcos
55.0%
West Palm Beach
75.0%
West Palm Beach +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
San Marcos
19.0 min
San Marcos +
West Palm Beach
25.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

West Palm Beach leads in median household income at $69,261, while san Marcos offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,452. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in San Marcos. San Marcos has a lower unemployment rate at 3.2%, and West Palm Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, West Palm Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.1%.

Compare More Cities

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About San Marcos & West Palm Beach

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