Houston is a city located in Fort Bend County Texas. Houston has a 2024 population of 2,319,119. Houston is currently growing at a rate of 0.21% annually and its population has increased by 0.86% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 2,299,269 in 2020.
The average household income in Houston is $97,458 with a poverty rate of 19.6%. The median age in Houston is 33.9 years: 33.7 years for males, and 34.1 years for females.
Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States and the largest in Texas. The city also has a global economy and only New York City has more Fortune 500 headquarters.
Houston is the economic center of Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland, which is the 5th largest metropolitan area in the United States with over 6 million people. 2012 was the first time Philadelphia was knocked out of the top 5, thanks to Houston's rapid growth.
Houston is a very multicultural city, partially due to its academic institutions, industry, and status as a port city. Houston residents speak more than 90 languages,, and it also has one of the youngest populations in the country due to the influx of immigrants in the state. It's estimated that there are 400,000 illegal aliensliving in the Houston area alone.
The non-Hispanic white population in Houston had halved since 1970 when it accounted for 62% of the population. It also seems the racial and ethnic diversity increases the further away from the center of the city you move to.
Houston's Hispanic population is increasing rapidly as more Latin American immigrants move to the area to work. Houston now has the 3rd largest Hispanic population in the United States.
There is also a significant African American population in Houston, which has been the case for most of its history. From 1870 to 1890, black people accounted for nearly 40% of the city's population, although this ranged from 21 to 33% from 1910 to 1970.
There is also a relatively large population of refugees living in the city since the 1970s. Nearly 1,600 refugees arrive at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport every year from all over the world.
Houston's booming population growth has made it one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. From 2011 to 2012, Houston gained more than 34,000 people, which was the second largest numeric increase for a city in the country.
In 2013, the Houston Chronicle reported its growth shows no signs of slowing. People are still moving to the area for its plentiful jobs, education, and housing, and many job sectors are growing.
By 2020, Houston's population is expected to grow from today's 2.162 million to 2.52 million. By 2030, the city will have 2.8 million residents, which means it should overtake Brooklyn.
In 1836, two real estate entrepreneurs from New York purchased a large area of land along Buffalo Bayou to found a city. The city name chosen was Sam Houston, after the general at the Battle of San Jacinto, who was elected as the president of Texas that year.
Houston was incorporated in 1837 and became the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas. By 1860, it was a major hub for exporting cotton, and its system of bayous was extended after the Civil War to allow the city to accept more commerce.
In 1901, oil was discovered nearby, which started the development of the still massive Texas petroleum industry. By 1910, Houston was home to 78,000 people, double its population just ten years before. By the 1950s, its economy shifted toward energy has large companies began relocating to Houston.
Since the recession of the 1990s, Houston has worked to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on petroleum.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Houston was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 937,232 | 40.82% |
Black or African American | 514,692 | 22.41% |
Two or more races | 341,089 | 14.85% |
Other race | 327,517 | 14.26% |
Asian | 157,978 | 6.88% |
Native American | 16,580 | 0.72% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1,165 | 0.05% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 897,510 | 2.52 | 42 | 58 |
Non Family | 366,582 | 1.24 | 29.8 | 70.2 |
Married | 328,732 | 3.38 | 61.4 | 38.6 |
Female | 142,724 | 3.48 | 30.9 | 69.1 |
Male | 59,472 | 3.3 | 35.5 | 64.5 |
3.29
Average Family Size
2.52
Average Household Size
42.0%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 119,952 | 7.93% |
Associates Degree | 89,537 | 5.92% |
Bachelors Degree | 316,987 | 20.95% |
Graduate Degree | 214,976 | 14.21% |
High School Graduate | 329,224 | 21.76% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 188,398 | 12.45% |
Some College | 254,030 | 16.79% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 604,440 | 361,506 | 96,490 |
White | 418,931 | 405,712 | 258,830 |
Black | 342,776 | 307,224 | 89,041 |
2+ Races | 203,346 | 141,479 | 48,837 |
Other Race | 197,080 | 100,213 | 21,120 |
Asian | 116,997 | 101,888 | 72,681 |
Native American | 10,696 | 7,195 | 2,059 |
Islander | 767 | 557 | 228 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 96.84%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 62.12%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $65,363 | $78,720 | $58,228 |
Graduate Degree | $84,642 | $105,773 | $72,790 |
High School Graduate | $33,046 | $36,767 | $27,621 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $27,461 | $31,028 | $19,539 |
Overall | $42,364 | $46,496 | $37,423 |
Some College | $38,933 | $44,714 | $34,689 |
$42,364
Average Earnings
$46,496
Average Male
$37,423
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
51.89% of Houston residents speak only English, while 48.11% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 38.16% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 1,021,382 | 238,707 | 23.37% |
Black | 501,671 | 125,885 | 25.09% |
Other | 326,114 | 85,609 | 26.25% |
Multiple | 337,165 | 69,593 | 20.64% |
White | 531,569 | 46,771 | 8.8% |
Asian | 154,686 | 22,104 | 14.29% |
Native | 16,285 | 3,633 | 22.31% |
Islander | 1,163 | 125 | 10.75% |
19.6%
Overall Poverty Rate
17.51%
Male Poverty Rate
21.65%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Houston is Other, with 26.25% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Houston is White, with 8.8% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.72%. Among those working part-time, it was 21.31%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.28%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 26.01% |
High School | 19.54% |
Some College | 14.63% |
Bachelors or Greater | 6.43% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 37.68% |
Male Unemployed | 28.66% |
Female Employed | 9.89% |
Male Employed | 7.78% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $68,832 | $112,797 |
Households | $60,440 | $97,458 |
Married Families | $95,440 | $146,980 |
Non Families | $47,474 | $71,489 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
40.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
42.4%
Male Marriage Rate
38.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
63,152
Number of Veterans
56,505
Male Veterans
6,647
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 19,707 |
Second Gulf War | 15,941 |
First Gulf War | 13,233 |
Korea | 4,073 |
World War II | 1,185 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
35 to 54 | 16,368 |
75+ | 14,949 |
65 to 74 | 14,004 |
55 to 64 | 10,459 |
18 to 34 | 7,372 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 32,193 | 4.42% |
Black | 20,666 | 5.25% |
Hispanic | 11,938 | 1.65% |
2+ Races | 5,840 | 2.42% |
Other Race | 2,649 | 1.12% |
Asian | 1,288 | 0.98% |
Native American | 489 | 3.85% |
Islander | 27 | 3.34% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
10.82%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.87%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
66.9%
Labor Force Participation
62.5%
Employment Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
51.8%
Born in Houston
71.06%
Native Born
28.94%
Foreign Born
19.28%
Non Citizen
9.66%
Naturalized
71.06% of Houston residents were born in the United States, with 51.8% having been born in Texas. 19.28% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 2,343,932 | 4,962 | 0.21% |
2028 | 2,338,970 | 4,963 | 0.21% |
2027 | 2,334,007 | 4,963 | 0.21% |
2026 | 2,329,044 | 4,962 | 0.21% |
2025 | 2,324,082 | 4,963 | 0.21% |
2024 | 2,319,119 | 4,962 | 0.21% |
2023 | 2,314,157 | 11,669 | 0.51% |
2022 | 2,302,488 | 11,468 | 0.5% |
2021 | 2,291,020 | -8,249 | -0.36% |
2020 | 2,299,269 | -16,451 | -0.71% |
2019 | 2,315,720 | 1,242 | 0.05% |
2018 | 2,314,478 | 1,399 | 0.06% |
2017 | 2,313,079 | 6,719 | 0.29% |
2016 | 2,306,360 | 22,744 | 1% |
2015 | 2,283,616 | 44,963 | 2.01% |
2014 | 2,238,653 | 42,286 | 1.93% |
2013 | 2,196,367 | 37,667 | 1.74% |
2012 | 2,158,700 | 35,402 | 1.67% |
2011 | 2,123,298 | 25,651 | 1.22% |
2010 | 2,097,647 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 1,953,631 | 323,078 | 19.81% |
1990 | 1,630,553 | 35,415 | 2.22% |
1980 | 1,595,138 | 361,603 | 29.31% |
1970 | 1,233,535 | 295,316 | 31.48% |
1960 | 938,219 | 342,056 | 57.38% |
1950 | 596,163 | 211,649 | 55.04% |
1940 | 384,514 | 92,162 | 31.52% |
1930 | 292,352 | 154,076 | 111.43% |
1920 | 138,276 | 59,476 | 75.48% |
1910 | 78,800 | 34,167 | 76.55% |
1900 | 44,633 | 17,076 | 61.97% |
1890 | 27,557 | 11,044 | 66.88% |
1880 | 16,513 | 7,131 | 76.01% |
1870 | 9,382 | 4,537 | 93.64% |
1860 | 4,845 | 2,445 | 101.87% |
1850 | 2,400 | -2,341,532 | -99.9% |