Population 893,767 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fort Bend County
Household size in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.22 | 2.96 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.21 | 3.00 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.25 | 2.98 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.14 | 2.91 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Fort Bend County is a place of big households: 3.14 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 3.22, in line with the national trend. Only 17 of Texas' 254 counties have larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.9 | 34.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.8 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.7 | 35.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.8 | 36.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Fort Bend County is 37.8 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 34.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the east.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 13.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Fort Bend County than nationally: 10.3%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fort Bend County
Renters in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 36.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.3% | 38.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 39.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.0% | 38.8% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Fort Bend County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 35.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 10.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 9.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Fort Bend County: 5.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few Texas counties have a lower vacancy rate: only two of 254.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1996 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1997 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2000 | 1988 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2004 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +8 | +8 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Fort Bend County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2004, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1996 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the east. Few Texas counties have newer homes: only three of 254.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,223 | $1,018 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,403 | $1,103 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,714 | $1,300 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,000 | $1,649 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$777 | +$631 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in Fort Bend County pays $2,000 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $777 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 33.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fort Bend County
Bachelor's degrees in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3% | 29.2% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.6% | 30.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.9% | 32.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.1% | 35.9% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Fort Bend County: 51.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 7.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only two of Texas' 254 counties have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.6% | 80.9% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 81.9% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.0% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.1% | 84.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +3.9 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Fort Bend County have finished high school (92.1%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Texas' 254 counties, only 20 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fort Bend County
| Period | Fort Bend County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in Fort Bend County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Houston area as a whole (6.2%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fort Bend County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bend County | 3.14 | 37.8 | 10.3% | 23.0% | 5.6% | 2004 | $2,000 | 51.1% | 92.1% | 4.9% |
| Harris County | 2.88 | 35.6 | 15.0% | 45.3% | 8.6% | 1989 | $1,605 | 33.6% | 82.1% | 6.9% |
| Brazoria County | 2.93 | 37.2 | 11.9% | 25.9% | 11.7% | 1995 | $1,626 | 34.7% | 88.9% | 4.4% |
| Waller County | 3.05 | 34.3 | 13.1% | 28.0% | 10.8% | 1999 | $1,511 | 28.8% | 86.5% | 6.5% |
| Austin County | 2.55 | 43.7 | 11.7% | 23.5% | 14.4% | 1989 | $1,154 | 24.9% | 86.1% | 4.0% |
| Wharton County | 2.64 | 38.7 | 12.1% | 27.7% | 11.5% | 1980 | $1,068 | 20.5% | 85.0% | 4.9% |
| Galveston County | 2.66 | 39.6 | 11.2% | 32.4% | 10.1% | 1992 | $1,583 | 36.6% | 90.3% | 5.8% |
| Colorado County | 2.68 | 45.7 | 8.7% | 20.5% | 18.8% | 1980 | $1,001 | 23.2% | 88.8% | 3.2% |
| Chambers County | 3.03 | 36.1 | 8.6% | 18.4% | 7.4% | 2002 | $1,816 | 22.6% | 89.0% | 6.8% |
| Washington County | 2.27 | 42.6 | 8.8% | 30.2% | 12.7% | 1987 | $1,192 | 30.7% | 90.5% | 3.1% |
| Liberty County | 3.43 | 32.3 | 13.3% | 17.7% | 14.3% | 1999 | $1,063 | 11.0% | 73.5% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Kern County, CA · Ventura County, CA · El Paso County, TX · San Francisco County, CA · Middlesex County, NJ · Worcester County, MA · Suffolk County, MA · San Mateo County, CA · San Joaquin County, CA · Pierce County, WA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fort Bend County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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