City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Houston, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Houston - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,300,419
Residents
$62,894
Median income
$253,400
Median home
$1,573
Median rent (state)

Houston - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Houston places in the 40th percentile for household income and the 3rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

40th
percentile, household income
56th
percentile, home value
62nd
percentile, median rent
3rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Houston, TX

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,300,419 residents in Houston, a major U.S. city within Texas. The typical household in Houston brings in $62,894 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 16.1%. Typical homes in Houston are valued around $253,400, and the median resident age is 34.3 years. 36.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 62.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 11,898 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 23% from five years earlier. Houston's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 5441.7 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Texas at 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,573 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Texas's average monthly utility costs around $223 (state average). Workers in Houston report an average commute of 24.1 minutes, with 69.7% driving alone and 11.7% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

2,300,419 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$62,894 /yr

Poverty 16.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Houston compare to other US cities?

Houston measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 40% higher than other cities
Home value 56% pricier than other cities
Median rent 62% pricier than other cities
Safety 3% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, Houston ranks #612 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Houston against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Houston toward the top of Texas's cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Houston ranks #279 - the 83rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Houston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#779 of 1,520
49th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#288 of 1,663
75th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#381 of 1,505
75th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#451 of 1,663
73rd percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#279 of 1,663
83rd percentile in Texas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

40thIncome percentile
3rdSafety percentile

40th percentile nationally for median household income · 3rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Houston's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Houston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 28 Avg. percentile National median
Houston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Houston's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$253,400 44th percentile more affordable than 44% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Houston $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Houston, TX Houston, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Houston, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Houston, TX median $62,894/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Houston, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Houston, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 36.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,300,419
Median Income
$62,894
Median Home Value
$253,400
Median Age
34.3
Poverty Rate
16.1%
Labor force participation
62.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
36.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
5441.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1148.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
4293.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
769
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,250,000 residents2,300,000 residents2,350,000 residents2,400,000 residents2,450,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,298,295 residents 2,397,315 residents ▲ +4.3%
Houston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
11,898
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6,808
detached homes
Multifamily
5,090
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 15,463
2020 16,585
2021 15,249
2022 15,745
2023 16,430
2024 11,898

Permit volume decreased 23% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
24.1 minutes
Drive Alone
69.7%
Carpool
10.1%
Public Transit
3.3%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
11.7%
Other
3.3%

Based on 1,112,341 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Houston sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,573/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

San Antonio
1,458,954 people
Dallas
1,299,553 people
Austin
967,862 people
Fort Worth
941,311 people
El Paso
678,147 people
Arlington
394,769 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Houston's 2,300,419 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Chicago, IL
2,707,648 people
Phoenix, AZ
1,624,832 people
Philadelphia, PA
1,582,432 people
San Diego, CA
1,385,061 people
San Jose, CA
990,054 people
Jacksonville, FL
961,739 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Houston's $62,894 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Garden Acres, CA
$62,895 median income
Delevan, NY
$62,887 median income
Two Harbors, MN
$62,885 median income
Hazel Park, MI
$62,878 median income
Sanford, FL
$62,877 median income
Park City, IL
$62,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Houston, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Houston, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 35.5% 22.9% 6.9% 14.6% 19.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 44.1% White 35.5% Black or African American 22.9% Asian 6.9% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 14.6% Two or more races 19.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Houston compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Houston (this city) 2,300,419 $62,894
San Antonio 1,458,954 $62,917
Dallas 1,299,553 $67,760
Austin 967,862 $91,461
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Houston, TX?

What is the population of Houston, TX? +

The population of Houston, TX stands at 2,300,419 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Houston, TX? +

In Houston, the typical household earns $62,894 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Houston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Houston; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Houston, TX safe? +

Houston has a total crime rate of 5441.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Houston, TX? +

Homes in Houston carry a median value of $253,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.