Neighborhood in San Marcos, Hays County

Living in South San Marcos, San Marcos

F

15th of 15areas in San Marcos
Overall score 1 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
San Marcos overall: D-

South San Marcos covers part of San Marcos, TX, home to about 5,000 people. It gets an F, in the bottom 8% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 15th of 15 areas we score in San Marcos. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

  • Pricey
  • Cost of living scores low (16 of 100)
  • Jobs and income scores low (9 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store1.3 mi
Pharmacy1.4 mi
Park1.3 mi
Cafe0.8 mi
Restaurant0.7 mi
Gym1.4 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.2 mi
Childcare3.7 mi
Library4.6 mi

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

Population
5,030
Median rent
$1,640
Median home value
$236,000
Household income
$48,900
Average commute
21 min
Homes owned
13%
Loading map

What it's like to live in South San Marcos

South San Marcos is an area in San Marcos with about 5,000 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2011), mostly rented (87% of homes) and 32% of households with children.

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

Pros of living in South San Marcos

No clear standouts in our data.

Cons of living in South San Marcos

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,640, 24% higher than the San Marcos median.
  • Higher unemployment. 9.3% of the labor force is out of work, against 5.2% across San Marcos.
  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 0 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

South San Marcos report card

Each grade compares South San Marcos 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 $1,640, homes cost 4.8x income.

    16 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $48,900, 9.3% unemployed.

    9 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D

    Nearby schools average 72 of 100 on the state rating.

    16 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 D

    Few everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    24 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 21 min, 4.4% work from home.

    80 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D-

    17% have a bachelor’s degree.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    24% of adults uninsured.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    13% of homes owner-occupied.

    12 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D-

    79% of homes have broadband.

    13 of 100 vs TX areas

South San Marcos compared with San Marcos

Better than San Marcos

  • Home value to income: 4.8x20% lower than San Marcos (6.1x)
  • Average commute: 21 min11% lower than San Marcos (24 min)
  • People below the poverty line: 23%4 points lower than San Marcos (27%)

Worse than San Marcos

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 17%21 points lower than San Marcos (38%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 13%18 points lower than San Marcos (31%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 78%12 points higher than San Marcos (67%)

Closest public schools

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

  • DBowie ElementaryElementary, San Marcos CISD1.6 mi
  • CMiller MiddleMiddle, San Marcos CISD2.2 mi
  • CSan Marcos High SchoolHigh, San Marcos CISD1.1 mi

Cost of living in South San Marcos

Median rent in South San Marcos is $1,640 a month, 24% higher than the San Marcos median. A household would need about $66,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $236,000, 24% lower than the San Marcos median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,662 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereSan MarcosTexas
Median rent24% higher than San Marcos$1,640$1,322$1,403
Median home value24% lower than San Marcos$236,000$310,400$283,800
Home value to income20% lower than San Marcos4.8x6.1x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent12 points higher than San Marcos78%67%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them18 points lower than San Marcos13%31%63%
Vacant homes1 points higher than San Marcos9.1%7.7%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as San Marcos201120011992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,662
Mortgage payment
$1,292
Property tax
$371
Median rent, for comparison
$1,640

Based on a $236,000 home in South San Marcos, 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 income5% lower than San Marcos$48,900$51,281$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points higher than San Marcos9.3%5.2%5.3%
People below the poverty line4 points lower than San Marcos23%27%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher21 points lower than San Marcos17%38%34%
Average commute11% lower than San Marcos21 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home7 points lower than San Marcos4.4%11%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit3 points lower than San Marcos3.3%6.6%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet6 points lower than San Marcos79%85%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingHigh
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresVery high
  • Winter stormsVery high
  • Strong windVery high

Who lives in South San Marcos

Under 1818%
18 to 3453%
35 to 6425%
65 and over4.3%
Race and ethnicity
White39%
Hispanic or Latino58%
Black0.6%
Asian0.6%
Other or more than one race1.6%

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. 5C-Rio VistaMedian rent $1,220
  6. 6C-East GuadalupeMedian rent $1,200
  7. 7C-Millview WestMedian rent $1,180
  8. 8D+Millview EastMedian rent $1,080

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. FNorthwest NacogdochesNacogdoches
  2. FBlackshear StadiumOdessa
  3. D-Southeast AustinAustin

Questions about South San Marcos

Is South San Marcos a good place to live?

South San Marcos covers part of San Marcos, TX, home to about 5,000 people. It gets an F, in the bottom 8% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 15th of 15 areas we score in San Marcos. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

How much does it cost to live in South San Marcos?

Median rent in South San Marcos is $1,640 a month, 24% higher than the San Marcos median. The median home is worth $236,000, 24% lower than the San Marcos median. A median home costs 4.8x the median household income, compared with 6.1x across San Marcos.

What schools serve South San Marcos?

The closest rated public schools are Bowie Elementary (elementary, rated D), Miller 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 groups 1 Census block group in this part of San Marcos that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.