© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
South Houston.
About
Life in South Houston
Life in South Houston is fundamentally shaped by affordability, family orientation, and a strong Latino community that gives the city its distinct character. With a median home value around $189,300 and median rent at $1,212 monthly, housing costs are genuinely accessible compared to much of the Houston metro—a real draw if you're priced out of other areas but want to stay in the region for work. The job market is solid with a 4.5% unemployment rate, and you're positioned within the larger Houston economy, though most residents commute 30+ minutes to reach employment centers, so factor in car time and gas if you're working elsewhere in the metro.
South Houston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.1%
Foreign-Born
33.2%
Broadband Internet
86.9%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics33.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South Houston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Houston, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (81.4%), and 71.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
31.0%
of residents
65 and Older
11.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
47.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.7%
of households
Married Couples
48.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in South Houston
In South Houston, rent runs 14% below the TX average, and home values are 33% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,479
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $187,832 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in South Houston and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Harris County, which includes South Houston, is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
South Houston: Harris County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Harris County (county-wide) · Annual averages
South Houston is less than 1% of Harris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What South Houston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro area
Commute30.5 min avg
How South Houston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Houston, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 23 mi
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Major hub23.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Houston runs 58% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
520.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,025.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Houston Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Harris County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Harris County, which includes South Houston, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73.1M |
| 2023 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.3M |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 23 | Flash Flood | $34.1M |
| 2020 | 17 | Hail | $1.2M |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200.6M |
| 2018 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Harris County, county-wide
South Houston is less than 1% of Harris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality62 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Harris County, which includes South Houston, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
62
Good Days
40
per year
Moderate Days
287
per year
Unhealthy Days
10
per year
Harris County, county-wide
South Houston is less than 1% of Harris County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 48°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Houston has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 48°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/62°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/64°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/48°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
101
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
4
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 46°F | 4.09" |
| Feb | 68°F | 50°F | 2.85" |
| Mar | 73°F | 56°F | 3.28" |
| Apr | 79°F | 62°F | 4.08" |
| May | 86°F | 69°F | 5.42" |
| Jun | 91°F | 75°F | 6.09" |
| Jul | 93°F | 77°F | 4.59" |
| Aug | 94°F | 77°F | 5.44" |
| Sep | 89°F | 73°F | 5.76" |
| Oct | 82°F | 64°F | 5.78" |
| Nov | 73°F | 54°F | 3.90" |
| Dec | 66°F | 48°F | 4.34" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Houston
Uninsured
28.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Houston's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Pasadena
Surgery Specialty Hospitals of America Se Houston
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Pasadena
Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Pasadena
Psychiatric · 3.5 mi away · Pasadena
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Houston
South Houston's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 10.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Houston (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 40,503 students · in-state tuition $2,040 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,369 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 38,380 students · in-state tuition $9,717 · 65% graduate · median earnings $68,423 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 22,969 students · in-state tuition $2,490 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,048 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Houston-Downtown
10.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 12,555 students · in-state tuition $7,708 · 57% graduate · median earnings $57,404 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 6,844 students · in-state tuition $9,173 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,064 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Houston-Clear Lake
9.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,078 students · in-state tuition $7,770 · 64% graduate · median earnings $61,521 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Thicket National Preserve, 75 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Houston
South Houston has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Thicket National Preserve (75 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Thicket National Preserve
National Preserve
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Houston
South Houston Branch Library
607 Ave A, South Houston
Cities Near South Houston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Houston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Houston FAQ
Is South Houston, Texas affordable?⌄
South Houston's median rent is $1,212/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,497/year. Median home value is $189,300.
Is South Houston, Texas safe?⌄
South Houston's violent crime rate was 520 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2026 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Houston, Texas?⌄
Harris County, which includes South Houston, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Houston, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in South Houston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,212/month and median household income is $53,497/year. The median home value is $189,300. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Houston, Texas?⌄
The average commute in South Houston is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from