What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to San Marcos, TX, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
San Marcos is a city in Hays County, Texas, with an estimated population of 74,316. It anchors the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metro area. The population has grown 2.4% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in San Marcos is $313,452 as of 2026-04, down 4.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +1.3% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 20% below its 5-year peak. Rents in San Marcos average $1,416 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+0.7%). The composite momentum score is 45 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Prices have come off recent highs (-20.4% from peak). Buyers may have more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Reasons people move here
- People are voting with their feet: population growing 2.4% per year since 2020 — that's faster than ~80% of US cities.
- The data is the data: San Marcos has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.
Things to know first
- 20% off the 5-year peak. That's not a healthy correction — that's a market that ran too far and is still digesting.
- Cooling: -4.4% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
More about San Marcos
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.