Neighborhood in San Marcos, Hays County

Living in Rio Vista, San Marcos

C-

5th of 15areas in San Marcos
Overall score 36 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
San Marcos overall: D-

Rio Vista is a neighborhood in San Marcos, TX, home to about 2,700 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 5th of 15 areas we score in San Marcos. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on internet access.

  • Errands close by
  • Pricey
  • Lots of parks
  • Cost of living scores low (15 of 100)
  • Health scores low (16 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.2 mi
Pharmacy0.4 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.3 mi
Restaurant0.2 mi
Gym0.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.6 mi
Childcare0.8 mi
Library0.3 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
2,660
Median rent
$1,220
Median home value
$354,000
Household income
$37,100
Average commute
23 min
Homes owned
20%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Rio Vista

Rio Vista is a neighborhood in San Marcos with about 2,700 residents, homes built around 1980, mostly rented (80% of homes) and 24% of households with children.

It grades C- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 5th of 15 areas in San Marcos, which grades D- overall.

Pros of living in Rio Vista

  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.2 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.2 miles away.

Cons of living in Rio Vista

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, hail and winter storms as very high in this part of town.

Rio Vista report card

Each grade compares Rio Vista with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade D-

    Median rent $1,220, homes cost 9.5x income.

    15 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D

    Median household income $37,100, 0.8% unemployed.

    24 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C-

    Nearby schools average 77 of 100 on the state rating.

    33 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 422 violent crimes per 100k, 1,940 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade A

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    92 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A

    Average commute 23 min, 9.1% work from home.

    90 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade A-

    63% have a bachelor’s degree.

    85 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    20% of adults uninsured.

    16 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D+

    20% of homes owner-occupied.

    25 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D-

    78% of homes have broadband.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

Rio Vista compared with San Marcos

Better than San Marcos

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 63%25 points higher than San Marcos (38%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 22%15 points higher than San Marcos (6.6%)
  • Unemployment rate: 0.8%4 points lower than San Marcos (5.2%)

Worse than San Marcos

  • Home value to income: 9.5x58% higher than San Marcos (6.1x)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 20%11 points lower than San Marcos (31%)
  • Median household income: $37,10028% lower than San Marcos ($51,281)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • CTravis ElementaryElementary, San Marcos CISD0.8 mi
  • CGoodnight MiddleMiddle, San Marcos CISD2.4 mi
  • CSan Marcos High SchoolHigh, San Marcos CISD4.9 mi

Cost of living in Rio Vista

Median rent in Rio Vista is $1,220 a month, 8% lower than the San Marcos median. A household would need about $49,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $354,000, 14% higher than the San Marcos median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,272 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereSan MarcosTexas
Median rent8% lower than San Marcos$1,220$1,322$1,403
Median home value14% higher than San Marcos$354,000$310,400$283,800
Home value to income58% higher than San Marcos9.5x6.1x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent11 points higher than San Marcos77%67%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them11 points lower than San Marcos20%31%63%
Vacant homes3 points lower than San Marcos4.6%7.7%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as San Marcos198020011992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,272
Mortgage payment
$1,938
Property tax
$334
Median rent, for comparison
$1,220

Based on a $354,000 home in Rio Vista, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereSan MarcosTexas
Median household income28% lower than San Marcos$37,100$51,281$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points lower than San Marcos0.8%5.2%5.3%
People below the poverty line3 points lower than San Marcos24%27%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher25 points higher than San Marcos63%38%34%
Average commute4% lower than San Marcos23 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home2 points lower than San Marcos9.1%11%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit15 points higher than San Marcos22%6.6%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet7 points lower than San Marcos78%85%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingModerate
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsVery high
  • Strong windHigh

Who lives in Rio Vista

Under 1815%
18 to 3451%
35 to 6428%
65 and over6.4%
Race and ethnicity
White62%
Hispanic or Latino32%
Black1.4%
Asian1.0%
Other or more than one race2.9%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in San Marcos

  1. 1CCentral San MarcosMedian rent $1,340
  2. 2CCastle ForestMedian rent $1,700
  3. 3CBlanco GardensMedian rent $1,160
  4. 4C-La VistaMedian rent $1,180
  5. 6C-East GuadalupeMedian rent $1,200
  6. 7C-Millview WestMedian rent $1,180
  7. 8D+Millview EastMedian rent $1,080
  8. 9D+Victory GardensMedian rent $1,600

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. C-River Oaks TownhomesCollege Station
  2. C-Tech RidgeAustin
  3. C-The Gardens ApartmentsCollege Station

Questions about Rio Vista

Is Rio Vista a good place to live?

Rio Vista is a neighborhood in San Marcos, TX, home to about 2,700 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 5th of 15 areas we score in San Marcos. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on internet access.

How much does it cost to live in Rio Vista?

Median rent in Rio Vista is $1,220 a month, 8% lower than the San Marcos median. The median home is worth $354,000, 14% higher than the San Marcos median. A median home costs 9.5x the median household income, compared with 6.1x across San Marcos.

What schools serve Rio Vista?

The closest rated public schools are Travis Elementary (elementary, rated C), Goodnight Middle (middle, rated C) and San Marcos High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 3 Census block groups closest to the Rio Vista name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.