Galveston, Texas
Homes for Sale
Notable For
A weekend destination for tourists as far north as Houston, Galveston is well known for its amenities, including restaurants, beaches, and attractions like the Moody Gardens, Pleasure Pier, Galveston State Park, and the Schlitterbahn Water Park. The town is also the main port for a number of cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean, and the Port of Galveston handles a variety of cargo traffic. The University of Texas Medical Branch is located in town, and Galveston is a financial center, with headquarters for the American National Insurance Company and Moody National Bank located here.
Cost of Living
Galveston County has one of the highest property tax rates in the United States, partly due to the fact that Texas does not have a state income tax and depends on property taxes to fund state and local governments and public schools. Median home prices in Galveston are also slightly higher than the Texas state average, but lower than the national average.
Transportation
Galveston is linked to mainland Texas by highway I-45, a bridge from the island to the mainland. Island Transit maintains a bus service called Island Express in partnership with Houston Metro that allows people to travel between Houston and Galveston by bus. Island Transit also maintains two bus lines within the city itself, taking riders through Galveston’s historic downtown with stops at Stewart Beach, Moody Gardens, and Schlitterbahn.
Schools
The Galveston Independent School District advertises itself as a “School of Choice” district, meaning that parents can send their children to any public school on the island that suits their needs, with transportation provided. Galveston ISD has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and a single high school. One of the middle schools is a magnet school, and a number of charter schools exist here. There are two private schools in Galveston run by the Catholic Church, as well as the Satori Elementary School, the Trinity Episcopal School, the Seaside Christian Academy, and the Heritage Christian Academy.
Attractions
Galveston has no shortage of attractions, from its beautiful beaches to outdoor festivals and performances. Moody Gardens botanical park is home to an aquarium, a rainforest, and a science museum, and Pleasure Pier has a number of rides, including an old-fashioned Ferris wheel and a roller coaster. The Galveston State Park protects dunes, wetlands, and estuaries, and is a great place to go bird watching, and the Schlitterbahn Water Park is home to outdoor attractions and an indoor heated pool open year-round. Galveston has many fine and casual dining establishments, including Gaido’s, a popular seafood restaurant known for ocean views and fresh Gulf seafood. Galveston also hosts events and festivals nearly every week, including outdoor movies on the beach, downtown art walks, summer concerts, beer and wine festivals, cook-offs, sandcastle competitions, and many more.