Median Income
$51,006
household / year
Median Home Value
$146,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,131
gross / month
Cost of Living
100
national avg = 100

Is South Houston, TX a Good Place to Live?

South Houston is a small city of 16,169 in Texas, with a median household income of $51,006 and a 9.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% above the national average.

Strengths: South Houston stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South Houston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All South 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: 100.2

South Houston's overall cost of living index is 100.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Houston costs roughly 0% more than the average American city.

Metric South Houston, TX National Avg
Median Home Value $146,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,131 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 51.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $51,006 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

South Houston's violent crime rate is 694.4 per 100,000 residents — 83% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
694.4 /100k
Property Crime
2178.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

South Houston is served primarily by PASADENA ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric South Houston, TX National Avg
School District PASADENA ISD —
Elementary Schools 36 —
Middle Schools 22 —
High Schools 8 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.0:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 8.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 60.1% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

South Houston sees average highs of 63.8°F in January and 92.9°F in July, with 57.1 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricSouth Houston, TX
Average High — January63.8°F
Average High — July92.9°F
Annual Precipitation57.1"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricSouth Houston, TXNational Avg
Population16,169—
Median Age28.338.9
Unemployment Rate9.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time30.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)50.3%59.3%
Black or African American1.1%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino46.0%18.9%
Asian1.6%6.3%
Under 1833.7%22.2%
65 and over8.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in South Houston

South Houston, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

South Houston vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

South Houston's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That puts South Houston roughly 0% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $146,000 and median rent is $1,131/month.
South Houston's violent crime rate is 694.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2178.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in South Houston are operated by PASADENA ISD. The district has 36 elementary, 22 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 8.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
South Houston, TX has a population of 16,169, a median household income of $51,006, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
South Houston averages 63.8°F in January and 92.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.1 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
South Houston, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 77587.
The population of South Houston, Texas is 16,169 with a median age of 28.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in South Houston: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $146,000, median household income $51,006, crime index 151 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South Houston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.