Is Houston, TX a Good Place to Live?
Houston is a large city of 2,296,253 in Texas, with a median household income of $60,440 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% above the national average.
Strengths: Houston stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Houston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Houston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 100.2Houston's overall cost of living index is 100.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Houston costs roughly 0% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Houston, TX | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
High CrimeHouston's violent crime rate is 1148.2 per 100,000 residents — 202% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Houston is served primarily by HOUSTON ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Houston, TX | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | HOUSTON ISD | — |
| Elementary Schools | 179 | — |
| Middle Schools | 42 | — |
| High Schools | 47 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 16.1:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 79.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Houston sees average highs of 62.8°F in January and 93.2°F in July, with 55.4 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Houston, TX |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 62.8°F |
| Average High — July | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Houston, TX | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,296,253 | — |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 27.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 40.8% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 22.4% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 26.9% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 6.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 11.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Houston
Houston, TX is covered by 107 ZIP codes: