Harris County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Harris County is located in Texas with a total population of 4,758,579. It is the 1st most populous county out of 254 in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Harris County is 34.4 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Harris County is $73,104. This is 4% lower than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.9%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $255,000. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $260,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 54.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Harris County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 27.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (18.7% vs 11.9%).

Education

33.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Harris County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.5%.