Houston city, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Houston city is a major urban center located in Texas. The total population is 2,300,419. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 1,800 cities and towns in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Houston city is 34.3 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Houston city is $62,894. This is 18% lower than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.7%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $253,400. Housing costs are 3% lower than the state median of $260,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 42.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% lower than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Houston city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 23.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (22.5% vs 11.9%).

Education

36.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 80.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Houston city, Texas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,800 Census-designated places in Texas. For official data, visit data.census.gov.