At a Glance
Median Income
$62,894
$41,142 per capita
Home Value
$253,400
Zillow: $261,976
Median Rent
$1,313/mo
31.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
1,072/100K
4,319/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
36.0%
80.3% high school+
Unemployment
4.5%
16.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.2%
13.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
72°F
301 sunny days/yr
How Houston Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Houston's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Houston a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Houston residents earn a median household income of $62,894 , which is 16% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $41,142. The unemployment rate stands at 4.5% (25% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 124,542 business establishments, including 10,837 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Houston is $253,400 , 10% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $261,976. Median rent is $1,313/month, with 31.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1980.
Safety & Crime
Houston reports 1,072 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 182% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,319/100K. The murder rate is 11.7/100K.
Education
36.0% of adults in Houston hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(7% above the national average).
80.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Houston has an average annual temperature of 72°F (22°C).
Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 86°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 56.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42.
Data Overview
People
Population2,300,419
Median Age34.3 yrs
Density3,590/mi²
Male / Female50% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.6%
Economy
B
Median Income$62,894
Per Capita$41,142
Unemployment4.5%
Poverty16.1%
County GDP$592,751M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,703
Housing
A
Home Value$253,400
Rent$1,313
Ownership42.0%
Zillow$261,976
Housing Units1,006,392
Rent Burden31.6%
Crime
F
Violent1,072/100K
Property4,319/100K
Murder11.7/100K
Assault619/100K
Burglary723/100K
Health
Obesity38.2%
Diabetes14.4%
Smoking13.7%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death8,157/100K
Climate
Avg Temp72°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain56.1 in/yr
AQI42 (Good)
Elevation62 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+36.0%
High School+80.3%
Graduate+14.2%
School Score4.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 46% / D 52%
Commute27 min
Broadband88.8%
Internet Speed153 Mbps
EV Stations433
Libraries73
Did You Know?
Houston was founded in 1836.
The median home in Houston was built in 1980.
The nearest airport is William P Hobby (12 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.497 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
10.4% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 153 Mbps.
There are 10,837 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 527 fatal vehicle crashes.
182 declared natural disasters on record.