Population 4,838,303 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Harris County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Harris County
Household size in Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.95 | 2.96 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.97 | 2.98 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.88 | 2.91 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Harris County holds 2.88 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.95, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the center.
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 Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.1 | 34.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.8 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.7 | 35.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.6 | 36.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Harris County is young: half of its residents are under 35.6, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 33.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 13.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 13.5% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Harris County: 15.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Harris County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Texas counties.
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 Harris County
Renters in Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2% | 36.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.4% | 38.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.4% | 39.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.3% | 38.8% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Harris County than nationally: 45.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among owners, 45.9% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 3.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few Texas counties have a higher share of renters: only seven of 254.
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 Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 10.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 9.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Harris County as nationally: 8.6%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.1 points, in line with the national trend. Harris County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Texas counties.
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 Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1988 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +8 | +8 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Harris County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1989, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the southeast has the oldest housing.
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 Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $997 | $1,018 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,071 | $1,103 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,261 | $1,300 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,605 | $1,649 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$608 | +$631 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Harris County costs $1,605 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $608 a month from 2006–10, a 61% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 33.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Harris County
Bachelor's degrees in Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5% | 29.2% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 30.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.8% | 32.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.6% | 35.9% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Harris County as nationally: 33.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the east.
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 Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.0% | 80.9% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.2% | 81.9% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.1% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.1% | 84.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +3.9 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Harris County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Harris County
| Period | Harris County | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Harris County: 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Harris County has higher unemployment than at least four in five Texas counties. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Harris 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 2.88 | 35.6 | 15.0% | 45.3% | 8.6% | 1989 | $1,605 | 33.6% | 82.1% | 6.9% |
| Fort Bend County | 3.14 | 37.8 | 10.3% | 23.0% | 5.6% | 2004 | $2,000 | 51.1% | 92.1% | 4.9% |
| Montgomery County | 2.87 | 38.1 | 10.0% | 28.2% | 8.0% | 2003 | $1,665 | 38.4% | 89.7% | 4.5% |
| 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% |
| Galveston County | 2.66 | 39.6 | 11.2% | 32.4% | 10.1% | 1992 | $1,583 | 36.6% | 90.3% | 5.8% |
| Liberty County | 3.43 | 32.3 | 13.3% | 17.7% | 14.3% | 1999 | $1,063 | 11.0% | 73.5% | 6.8% |
| Chambers County | 3.03 | 36.1 | 8.6% | 18.4% | 7.4% | 2002 | $1,816 | 22.6% | 89.0% | 6.8% |
| Austin County | 2.55 | 43.7 | 11.7% | 23.5% | 14.4% | 1989 | $1,154 | 24.9% | 86.1% | 4.0% |
| Washington County | 2.27 | 42.6 | 8.8% | 30.2% | 12.7% | 1987 | $1,192 | 30.7% | 90.5% | 3.1% |
| Colorado County | 2.68 | 45.7 | 8.7% | 20.5% | 18.8% | 1980 | $1,001 | 23.2% | 88.8% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Maricopa County, AZ · Orange County, CA · Los Angeles County, CA · San Diego County, CA · Miami-Dade County, FL · Cook County, IL · Duval County, FL · Bergen County, NJ · Montgomery County, PA · Delaware County, PA
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 Harris 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.