Population 128,037 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Houston
Household size in West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.96 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 3.00 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.98 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.91 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
West Houston is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 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 crept up from 2.31, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the southeast.
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 West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3 | 34.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.3 | 35.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.9 | 36.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +2.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
West Houston is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 37.3, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 13.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 13.5% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in West Houston (13.1%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Houston area. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national share fell.
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 West Houston
Renters in West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.7% | 36.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 57.6% | 38.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.1% | 39.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 60.1% | 38.8% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in West Houston: 60.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than four in ten owners (45.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southeast; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 10.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 9.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in West Houston than nationally: 13.5%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, 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 West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1988 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +8 | +8 | +6 |
The housing in West Houston is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are older than in the Houston area overall, where the median home dates to 1993. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north 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 West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,060 | $1,018 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,175 | $1,103 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,474 | $1,300 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,693 | $1,649 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$633 | +$631 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Houston pays $1,693 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $633 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a bigger share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; 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 West Houston
Bachelor's degrees in West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.8% | 29.2% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 52.5% | 30.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.6% | 32.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.4% | 35.9% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +6.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
West Houston is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (55.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.7 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southeast.
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 West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.8% | 80.9% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.1% | 81.9% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.0% | 84.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +3.9 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Houston is above the national rate: 94.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. West Houston has a higher share of high school graduates than most 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 West Houston
| Period | West Houston | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in West Houston: 6.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
West Houston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Houston | 2.39 | 36.9 | 13.1% | 60.1% | 13.5% | 1987 | $1,693 | 55.4% | 94.0% | 6.6% |
| Eldridge-West Oaks | 2.36 | 34.5 | 13.0% | 73.8% | 14.2% | 1999 | $1,521 | 44.1% | 91.8% | 5.4% |
| Energy Corridor | 2.24 | 32.3 | 8.3% | 80.5% | 9.2% | 1996 | $1,561 | 48.6% | 95.2% | 2.9% |
| Westchase | 2.46 | 34.2 | 16.3% | 78.5% | 12.6% | 1983 | $1,302 | 32.8% | 73.7% | 8.5% |
| Terra del Sol | 3.28 | 29.0 | 22.5% | 81.6% | 10.9% | 1992 | $1,378 | 23.9% | 81.7% | 8.9% |
| Sugarland | 3.06 | 35.6 | 17.6% | 57.1% | 9.5% | 1982 | $1,396 | 20.6% | 72.8% | 8.3% |
| Greater Memorial | 2.43 | 44.0 | 5.5% | 41.2% | 13.0% | 1982 | $1,867 | 74.2% | 97.8% | 3.9% |
| Mission Bend South | 3.41 | 30.1 | 16.0% | 25.4% | 6.1% | 1983 | $1,752 | 16.9% | 80.9% | 9.6% |
| Spring Branch | 2.95 | 34.5 | 19.2% | 53.0% | 9.1% | 1982 | $1,491 | 32.3% | 72.6% | 5.7% |
| Addicks-Park ten | 2.49 | 32.4 | 18.7% | 67.4% | 7.3% | 2001 | $1,702 | 42.3% | 89.3% | 8.9% |
| Galleria-Uptown | 2.02 | 39.2 | 9.2% | 69.2% | 14.5% | 1986 | $1,624 | 57.8% | 88.5% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Evergreen, San Jose, CA · East Side, El Paso, TX · University, Columbus, OH · East Village, Manhattan, NY · Eastside, Fort Worth, TX · Tremont, Bronx, NY · Torresdale, Philadelphia, PA · The Lakes, Las Vegas, NV · Elmhurst, Queens, NY · The Colony, Anaheim, CA
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 West Houston. 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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