Houston | Real Data Sheet — Key Statistics & Trends

HOUSTON · REAL DATA SHEET

Greater Houston · Bayou City · Energy Capital Estimates 2024–2025 | US Census, BLS, CoH

Comprehensive snapshot: demographics, housing, economy, climate & industry — data-driven overview of Texas’s largest metropolis.

Population & Scale

2,304,580 (city)

City of Houston (2024 est.)

7,368,200

Metro Area (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land)

Land Area
671 sq mi (city)

Density
3,607 /sq mi

Median Age
34.5 yrs

7th largest US metro · Rapid growth: +1.2% YoY (metro) · Foreign-born: 28% · Diverse global hub

Housing & Living

$335,000

Median Home Value (Q2 2024)

$1,495

Median Rent (2BR)

Homeownership rate
47.2%

Cost of Living Index
94.2 (US=100)

Building Permits (2024)
~28k units

Affordable compared to coastal metros · No state income tax · Strong rental demand

Economy & Jobs

$630B

Metro GDP (2023) · 12th largest US economy

$60,800

Median Household Income (City)

Unemployment rate
4.3% (May 2024)

Labor Force
3.74M workers

Major Sectors
Energy · Healthcare · Aerospace

Energy capital of the world + Texas Medical Center (largest in the world) · Port Houston #1 for foreign tonnage

Climate & Geography

July Avg High
94°F (34°C)

January Avg Low
43°F (6°C)

Annual Rainfall
49.8 in

Hurricane Season
Jun–Nov · High risk zone

Humidity
Avg 74%

Green space
500+ parks

Humid subtropical · Prone to coastal flooding, but resilient infrastructure upgrades ongoing · Buffalo Bayou watershed

Diversity & Demographics

Hispanic / Latino45%

White (non-Hispanic)25%

Black / African American23%

Asian7%

One of most ethnically diverse US metros · Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian communities thrive · Top destination for immigrants

Bachelor’s degree or higher: 32% · Advanced degree: 12%

Top Employers & Port

Memorial Hermann Health System
ExxonMobil
NASA Johnson Space Center
H-E-B Grocery
Houston Methodist & UTHealth

#1 U.S. Port

Port Houston — Foreign Waterborne Tonnage (2023) · 247M tons

Major airports: IAH (#15 busiest US) & HOU · Global connectivity

Houston Metro · Employment by Industry Cluster (2024)

Energy (Oil & Gas, Renewables)18%

Healthcare & Social Assistance14%

Retail & Wholesale Trade16%

Professional & Business Services12%

Manufacturing & Construction15%

Logistics / Transportation9%

Quick insight

Houston added 86,000+ jobs in 2024 (YOY). Energy transition + life sciences supercluster.
NASA’s Artemis program & Space Hub driving aerospace growth.

Houston ranked #1 for job creation in TX (2024)

Historical Population Growth · City of Houston (1990–2024)

Data: US Census Bureau & Texas Demographic Center — steady growth driven by international migration and economic dynamism. Metro growth expected to reach 8M by 2030.

Education & Innovation

20+

Higher Education Institutions

Rice University (#1 in Texas)
University of Houston (Tier 1 Research)
Texas Southern University · Houston Christian
Texas Medical Center campuses (MD Anderson, Baylor)

R&D investment: $2.5B+ annually · Innovation District: The Ion, Greentown Labs

Infrastructure & Mobility

Avg commute time
27.6 min

METRO ridership
30M+ annual trips

Highway miles
~1,200 lane miles

Light rail (Red, Purple, Green lines) · Major projects: I-45 expansion, Ship Channel bridge. Bike share: 700+ stations

Energy & Sustainability

Renewable capacity (Solar+Wind) ~9 GW (metro region)

Global energy transition hub – Carbon capture & hydrogen hubs

Climate action plan: Net zero by 2050 goal · 100+ green buildings LEED certified

Oil & gas headquarters: Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Halliburton, Baker Hughes

Sports & Culture Scene

Astros (MLB) · 2022 WS Champs

Texans (NFL)

Rockets (NBA)

Space City · Theatre District (2nd largest in US), Museum District with 19 institutions · RodeoHouston: world’s largest livestock show

Key Real Estate Indicators

Housing inventory (months)
3.4 months (balanced)

YOY home value change
+3.2%

Apartment vacancy
8.1%

Steady demand from relocations · Top 5 migration destination from California & Midwest

Resilience & Risk

Flood bond (2018) $2.5B invested in drainage, reservoirs

Hurricane Harvey recovery – 85% of federal mitigation completed

New building codes & “Project Brays” reduce flood risk