Population 8,312 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Main
Household size in South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.23 | 2.96 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 3.00 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.98 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.69 | 2.91 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.55 | −0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
South Main is a place of small households, averaging 1.69 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.23, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Houston's 63 neighborhoods, only two have smaller 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 South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4 | 34.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 27.8 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.4 | 35.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.0 | 36.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.6 | +2.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
South Main is young: half of its residents are under 36.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 27.4, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 13.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 13.5% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in South Main than nationally: 10.4%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 10.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South Main
Renters in South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.3% | 36.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 78.4% | 38.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.5% | 39.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 84.0% | 38.8% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in South Main rent: 84.0% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 38.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.6% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 10.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 9.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in South Main: 12.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 South Main
| Period | South Main | 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 | 2005 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +8 | +8 | +6 |
South Main has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2005, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1996 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north has the oldest housing. Of Houston's 63 neighborhoods, only three have newer homes.
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 South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $845 | $1,018 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $912 | $1,103 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,183 | $1,300 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,610 | $1,649 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$765 | +$631 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Main costs $1,610 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $765 a month from 2006–10, a 91% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the north.
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 South Main
Bachelor's degrees in South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0% | 29.2% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.2% | 30.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.8% | 32.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.2% | 35.9% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.2 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in South Main: 50.2% 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 16.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 80.9% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.1% | 81.9% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.3% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.2% | 84.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +3.9 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in South Main: 98.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. South Main has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Houston neighborhoods.
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 South Main
| Period | South Main | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Main is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider Houston area (6.2%). Unemployment has fallen 8.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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).
South Main compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Main | 1.69 | 36.0 | 10.4% | 84.0% | 12.1% | 2005 | $1,610 | 50.2% | 98.2% | 5.0% |
| Willow Meadows-Willowbend Area | 2.08 | 43.3 | 7.3% | 71.9% | 9.8% | 1976 | $1,159 | 41.8% | 76.5% | 3.9% |
| Medical | 1.87 | 34.9 | 5.6% | 74.7% | 10.5% | 1993 | $1,558 | 71.9% | 97.4% | 7.1% |
| West University | 2.48 | 39.5 | 5.1% | 45.1% | 7.7% | 1994 | $2,310 | 83.9% | 98.3% | 4.2% |
| Rice | 2.34 | 36.3 | 2.8% | 47.5% | 13.2% | 1985 | $2,087 | 77.1% | 99.2% | 3.9% |
| Central Southwest | 3.21 | 35.8 | 21.2% | 32.4% | 5.3% | 1993 | $1,407 | 20.8% | 71.6% | 9.4% |
| Meyerland | 2.63 | 37.8 | 15.6% | 50.6% | 10.1% | 1971 | $1,625 | 42.2% | 83.5% | 6.1% |
| Westbury | 2.31 | 35.0 | 24.4% | 79.1% | 13.3% | 1976 | $1,201 | 16.5% | 71.9% | 12.7% |
| River Oaks | 1.77 | 42.6 | 4.7% | 63.3% | 12.1% | 1995 | $2,054 | 78.7% | 98.2% | 4.0% |
| Montrose | 1.75 | 36.3 | 3.1% | 62.7% | 13.5% | 1993 | $1,741 | 78.3% | 98.4% | 5.0% |
| Midtown | 1.57 | 33.3 | 3.7% | 79.9% | 9.6% | 2004 | $1,912 | 73.4% | 98.9% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Sunrise, San Antonio, TX · Durfee, Detroit, MI · East Avenue, Rochester, NY · East Elmhurst, Queens, NY · East Richmond, Richmond, CA · Hamilton Main Street Historic District, Hamilton, OH · Harry Floyd Terrace, Vallejo, CA · Idlewild South, Charlotte, NC · Inglewood-Riverwood, Nashville, TN · Inverness, Hoover, AL
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 South Main. 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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