What it's like to live in Houston
Houston is a major city in Texas with home prices that remain within reach, several well-rated hospitals, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Houston deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How Houston compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Houston
Based on Houston's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,722
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,440 a year
- 52% of Houston renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$55,560
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,780
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,361/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,361 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $277,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $277,800 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 169% above US
884 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3828/100k · Houston Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 46°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
34 hospitals
There are 34 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.7 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
588 public schools inside the boundary
There are 588 public schools inside the boundary and 153 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Big Thicket National Preserve (76 miles away).
Bottom line
Houston's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and several well-rated hospitals; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,361/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. Whether it fits comes down to the specifics: the neighborhood, the job, and what matters most in the move.
Other places near Houston
All Texas guides →Moving to West University Place →
6 mi away · pop. 14,982
Rent $3,500+/mo · Income $250,000+
Compare with Houston →Moving to Galena Park →
10 mi away · pop. 10,487
Rent $1,184/mo · Income $51,220
Compare with Houston →Not sure Houston is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.