Economy, jobs and prices in Houston, Texas: official figures
The median household income in Houston was $64,813 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 213th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Texas median $78,476.
What is the per capita income in Houston?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Houston averaged $42,430 a year in 2020-2024, 362nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Texas: $40,752).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Houston?
Houston's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.535 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 25th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Houston, Texas?
6.9% of the civilian labor force in Houston was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (85,882 people), 164th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Texas' 5.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Houston have jobs?
1,150,564 residents of Houston held civilian jobs, 62.4% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 1,769 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Houston?
The largest industry group for working residents of Houston was education, health care and social assistance (20.3% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (16.0%) and construction (10.6%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Houston work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 7.6% of working residents of Houston, 314th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 16.0% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Houston, Texas?
Commuters in Houston took 27.2 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 259th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 7.4% travelled an hour or more and 18.6% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Houston get to work?
13.0% of workers living in Houston worked from home in 2020-2024, 378th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 67.7% drove to work alone, 10.6% carpooled, 3.2% used public transport and 2.0% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Houston, Texas?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Houston was $1,361 a month in 2020-2024, 296th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Texas: $1,403).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Houston?
Owner-occupied homes in Houston had a median value of $277,800 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 240th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Texas: $283,800).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Houston?
The median home value in Houston was 4.3 times the median household income, 354th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Houston have no internet?
7.3% of households in Houston (67,596) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 176th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 14.7% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Houston compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 611 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 608 | Corvallis | $65,012 |
| 609 | Lawrence | $65,009 |
| 610 | Pasadena | $64,927 |
| 611 | Houston | $64,813 |
| 612 | Normal | $64,785 |
| 613 | Wichita | $64,620 |
| 614 | Stonecrest | $64,591 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 362 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 359 | La Habra | $42,557 |
| 360 | Missouri City | $42,554 |
| 361 | Layton | $42,444 |
| 362 | Houston | $42,430 |
| 363 | Blue Springs | $42,423 |
| 364 | Greer | $42,331 |
| 365 | Mount Vernon | $42,311 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 25 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Evanston | 0.541 |
| 23 | Berkeley | 0.537 |
| 24 | Shreveport | 0.537 |
| 25 | Houston | 0.535 |
| 26 | Fort Lauderdale | 0.535 |
| 27 | Delray Beach | 0.535 |
| 28 | Gainesville | 0.533 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 164 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 161 | Las Cruces | 7.0% |
| 162 | Yuba City | 7.0% |
| 163 | Quincy | 6.9% |
| 164 | Houston | 6.9% |
| 165 | Southfield | 6.9% |
| 166 | Visalia | 6.9% |
| 167 | Berwyn | 6.9% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 310 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 307 | Sioux City | 67.3% |
| 308 | Irvine | 67.3% |
| 309 | Tracy | 67.2% |
| 310 | Houston | 67.2% |
| 311 | Hollywood | 67.2% |
| 312 | Pasco | 67.2% |
| 313 | Bellevue | 67.2% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 259 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 256 | Roseville | 27.3 |
| 257 | Miami | 27.3 |
| 258 | San Jose | 27.3 |
| 259 | Houston | 27.2 |
| 260 | Shoreline | 27.2 |
| 261 | Aurora | 27.2 |
| 262 | Glendale | 27.1 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 446 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 443 | Arlington | 13.1% |
| 444 | Des Moines | 13.1% |
| 445 | Chesapeake | 13.1% |
| 446 | Houston | 13.0% |
| 447 | Cranston | 13.0% |
| 448 | Smyrna | 13.0% |
| 449 | Hollywood | 13.0% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 174 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 171 | Bellingham | 3.3% |
| 172 | Brookhaven | 3.2% |
| 173 | Worcester | 3.2% |
| 174 | Houston | 3.2% |
| 175 | Lakewood | 3.2% |
| 176 | South Fulton | 3.2% |
| 177 | Dayton | 3.1% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 510 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 507 | Corvallis | 7.6% |
| 508 | Kyle | 7.6% |
| 509 | Trenton | 7.6% |
| 510 | Houston | 7.6% |
| 511 | Raleigh | 7.6% |
| 512 | Herriman | 7.5% |
| 513 | Delano | 7.5% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 635 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 632 | St. Cloud | 20.3% |
| 633 | North Miami | 20.3% |
| 634 | Cape Coral | 20.3% |
| 635 | Houston | 20.3% |
| 636 | Escondido | 20.3% |
| 637 | San Francisco | 20.3% |
| 638 | Laguna Niguel | 20.3% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 528 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 525 | Albany | $1,372 |
| 526 | Minneapolis | $1,371 |
| 527 | Warwick | $1,363 |
| 528 | Houston | $1,361 |
| 529 | Elgin | $1,361 |
| 530 | Ocala | $1,359 |
| 531 | Spokane Valley | $1,353 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 584 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 581 | Oak Lawn | $281,200 |
| 582 | Livonia | $281,100 |
| 583 | Pinellas Park | $278,900 |
| 584 | Houston | $277,800 |
| 585 | Bristol | $277,800 |
| 586 | Gastonia | $277,600 |
| 587 | Ames | $277,400 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 467 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 464 | Cary | 4.3x |
| 465 | Rock Hill | 4.3x |
| 466 | Chicago | 4.3x |
| 467 | Houston | 4.3x |
| 468 | St. Cloud | 4.3x |
| 469 | Ocala | 4.3x |
| 470 | Columbia | 4.3x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 746 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 743 | Kalamazoo | 42.3% |
| 744 | Alexandria | 42.1% |
| 745 | Ames | 42.1% |
| 746 | Houston | 42.1% |
| 747 | Fayetteville | 41.8% |
| 748 | Milwaukee | 41.8% |
| 749 | Corvallis | 41.7% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 613 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 610 | Daytona Beach | 90.2% |
| 611 | Suffolk | 90.2% |
| 612 | Great Falls | 90.1% |
| 613 | Houston | 90.1% |
| 614 | Meriden | 90.1% |
| 615 | Springfield | 90.1% |
| 616 | Bowling Green | 90.0% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Houston ranks 176 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 173 | Newark | 7.3% |
| 174 | Cincinnati | 7.3% |
| 175 | New York | 7.3% |
| 176 | Houston | 7.3% |
| 177 | Lansing | 7.3% |
| 178 | Pittsburgh | 7.3% |
| 179 | Columbia | 7.3% |
More on Houston: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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