Houston, TX Local Data & Statistics

State: TX

Total population: 2,328,253 Household income: $64,813 Rent: $1,361

Overview

Total population

2,328,253

Rent

$1,361

Year built

1982

Household income

$64,813

Per capita income

$42,430

Poverty rate

19.9%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

Total population

2,328,253

Adults over 25

1,550,897

Total households

930,404

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$64,813

Per capita income

$42,430

Poverty rate

19.9%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Rent over 30% of income

51.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,361

Year built

1982

Households that rent

57.9%

Households that own

42.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

30.4%

Black

22.7%

Asian

6.9%

Two or more races

24%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

44.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

55.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

13%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

32.3%

High school graduate or GED

21.4%

Some college or associate degree

9.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

36.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Houston, TX with: Texas United States

Houston, TX

Total population2,328,253

Rent$1,361

Year built1982

Household income$64,813

Per capita income$42,430

Poverty rate19.9%

Unemployment rate4.0%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityHouston, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	2,328,253	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,361	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1982	1992	1980
Household income	$64,813	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$42,430	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	19.9%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.0%	4.1%	4%

View the complete comparison of Houston, TX, Texas and United States →

Summary for Houston, TX

Houston is located in Texas.

Rent & Income

In Houston, the typical monthly rent is $1,361 and the typical household income is $64,813. Rent here is similar to both Texas and the U.S., and household income is lower than both Texas and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 19.9%, which is higher than in both Texas and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 57.9% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 51.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 36.6% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is similar to both Texas and the national rate.

Houston, TX — Rent vs Household Income

Houston, TX — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Houston, TX compares in Texas (71 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,361	32 / 71	from lower rent	$923 – $2,231
Household income	$64,813	50 / 71	from higher income	$46,354 – $161,235
Poverty rate	19.9%	58 / 71	from lower poverty	3.6% – 29.2%
Unemployment rate	4%	56 / 71	from lower unemployment	2.6% – 8.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Texas with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Houston, TX

Rent

Houston ranks 32nd out of 71 large places in Texas for rent. Statewide rents range from $923 in Brownsville, TX to $2,231 in Flower Mound, TX.

Household income

For household income, Houston ranks 50th out of 71 large places. Across Texas, incomes range from $46,354 in Port Arthur, TX to $161,235 in Flower Mound, TX.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Houston ranks 58th out of 71 large places. Statewide rates vary from 3.6% in Frisco, TX to 29.2% in College Station, TX.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Houston ranks 56th out of 71 significant areas. Across Texas, unemployment varies from 2.6% in Amarillo, TX to 8.2% in Port Arthur, TX.

💰 Rent in Houston, TX (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,361 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Houston, TX

Annual Household Income: $64,813

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Houston, TX

Estimated Rate: 19.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Houston, TX

In Houston, TX, households that rent: 538,885 (57.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	538,885	57.9%
Owner-Occupied	391,519	42.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Houston, TX

In Houston, TX, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 277,515 (51.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	277,515	51.5%
Other renter households	261,370	48.5%
Total renter households	538,885	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Houston, TX

Less than High School: 501,698 people (32.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 331,546 people (21.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 149,275 people (9.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 568,378 people (36.6%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 1,550,897

📊 Unemployment Rate in Houston, TX

Estimated Rate: 4.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Chicago, IL2,707,648

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.