Quick Answer: San Marcos, TX grew 14.9% between 2020 and July 2025, reaching an estimated 77,830 residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Roughly seven in ten households in San Marcos, TX rent rather than own, pulled in by Texas State University, a 72-degree spring-fed river, and I-35 access to both Austin and San Antonio.
Growth statistics rarely tell you how a place actually feels. San Marcos, TX added close to 10,000 residents in five years, and a large share of them are under 30. Serving renters across the Hays County stretch of the interstate, The Lanes at Oslo in San Marcos sits about 3.7 miles from the Texas State campus, close enough to feel the student energy without living inside it.
What Is Living in San Marcos TX Really Like?
Living in San Marcos TX means sharing a compact Hill Country city with more than 44,000 college students. Texas State University hit a record 44,596 enrollment in fall 2025, a 9.6% jump in a single year. That one number explains the rental calendar, the August traffic, and why the coffee shops are full at 11 p.m. on a Tuesday.
The U.S. Census Bureau put the city at 77,830 residents as of July 2025, up 14.9% from its 2020 base. Back in the 2010 count it was 44,894. Only 10.8% of residents are 65 or older, and just 30.8% of housing units are owner-occupied, which is a striking figure for a Texas city this size.
The city's own planning office publishes a separate figure using a housing-unit method reviewed by the State Demographer of Texas, and it runs higher because it counts everyone inside current city limits. Its January 2026 estimate came in at 91,082, with projections averaging near 110,000 by 2035. Two credible sources, two different boundaries. Useful context before you argue with anyone about how big San Marcos, TX really is.
Median gross rent citywide sat at $1,322 in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey. That is real money, and it is worth saying plainly: this is not a bargain-basement town anymore.
Who Actually Decides to Move to San Marcos
Three groups keep showing up. Students, obviously. Then healthcare, hospitality, and warehouse workers who staff the hospital, the outlet malls, and the distribution centers along the corridor. The third group catches people off guard: Austin workers who got priced out and traded a longer drive for a cheaper lease. Census figures put the average local commute at 24 minutes, under the Texas average of 26.7.
Hays County added more than 10,000 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, growing over 3% in a single year and landing among the faster-growing counties in the country. San Marcos, TX is the county seat, so the courthouse, county offices, and a heavy share of the area's rental inventory all sit inside the city limits.
What to Do in San Marcos TX Without Spending Much?
Most of the best things to do in San Marcos cost nothing at all. The San Marcos River holds a steady 72 degrees year-round. Texas State counts 232 days of sunshine annually against a national average of 205, plus more than 1,200 acres of natural trails inside the city. Free entertainment, basically.
Places to See in San Marcos TX Close to Campus
Sewell Park and City Park sit directly on the water and are walkable from the university. Rio Vista Park has the engineered rapids that kayakers surf. One thing newcomers get wrong: the City of San Marcos runs managed access at Rio Vista from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, with staff collecting entry fees from out-of-area visitors on weekends and holidays. Residents register for a pass instead.
Things to Do Near San Marcos TX on a Free Saturday
Purgatory Creek Natural Area is the heavyweight, several hundred acres of juniper thickets and champion oaks on the west side of town, with an ADA-accessible trail added in 2019. The city's interconnected natural areas and trails link several of these greenbelts together. Add the two outlet centers, the downtown square after dark, and glass-bottom boat tours at Spring Lake, and there is more stuff to do in San Marcos than a single semester can cover.
How Do Cities Near San Marcos Compare for Renters?
Geography does a lot of the work here. Cities near San Marcos range from ten-minute suburbs to two full metros, and each one changes what your weekends and your commute look like. Drive times below assume clear conditions on I-35, which is not a safe assumption during construction season or rush hour.
| City | Approx. Distance | Typical Drive | Known For | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle | 10 miles north | 15 minutes | Suburban retail and chain restaurants | Big-box errands |
| Wimberley | 15 miles west | 25 minutes | Blue Hole and Hill Country markets | Slow weekend day trips |
| New Braunfels | 18 miles south | 20 minutes | Comal River and Gruene Hall | Summer floating and live music |
| Austin | 30 miles north | 40 to 60 minutes | Music venues, tech employers, festivals | Concerts and career networking |
| San Antonio | 50 miles south | 50 to 70 minutes | River Walk, Spanish missions, Spurs | Big-city weekends on a small-city budget |
That two-metro position is the practical case for moving to San Marcos Texas. Catch a show in Austin and get home before 1 a.m., then drive south for a Spurs game the next weekend, all without paying either city's rent. The neighborhood map and directions page shows how the frontage road ties into the interstate.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is San Marcos a good place for young renters?
For most renters under 35, yes. The median resident age skews young, roughly seven in ten households rent, and the city sits between two job markets. The tradeoff is a competitive August leasing rush and a rental market that no longer counts as cheap by Central Texas standards.
2. What are the best things to do on a San Marcos weekend?
- Float or swim the 72-degree San Marcos River from City Park or Rio Vista Park
- Hike or ride the trails at Purgatory Creek Natural Area
- Take a glass-bottom boat tour over the Spring Lake headwaters
- Shop the two adjoining outlet centers off I-35
- Walk the downtown square for live music and local restaurants
3. How far is San Marcos from Austin and San Antonio?
The city sits roughly halfway between them, about 30 miles south of Austin and 50 miles north of San Antonio along I-35. Texas State University describes its campus as a Hill Country community about halfway between the two. Real drive times swing widely depending on interstate construction and time of day.
4. Is it expensive to move to San Marcos?
Median gross rent citywide ran $1,322 in the 2020 to 2024 Census estimates, which lands below Austin but above what many people expect from a college town. Moving costs stay lower than a big-metro relocation, though August is the most expensive month to sign because student demand peaks then.
5. Do you need a car to live here?
Not strictly. Texas State University, which serves more than 44,000 students, runs the Bobcat Shuttle on routes reaching across the city, and downtown, campus, and the river are all walkable from central neighborhoods. A car helps a lot once you want to reach the outlets or either metro.
The Bottom Line on Moving to San Marcos Texas
San Marcos, TX grew 14.9% in five years for reasons that hold up when you visit: a river warm enough to swim in October, a university adding thousands of students a year, and two major cities inside an hour's drive. Rent is not free, and the leasing calendar moves fast in late summer. If you're weighing the move, compare studio and one bedroom floor plans, browse the photo gallery and virtual tour, and ask the leasing team what is actually available for your dates.
