1st Advantage MortgageAbout 55% of Harris County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $74,983. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Harris County
- Paychecks and income spread in Harris County
- Jobs and commutes in Harris County
- Housing costs in Harris County
- Regional comparison for Harris County
- Towns and communities in Harris County
- Harris County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Harris County borrowers
- A Harris County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- A Harris County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Harris County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Harris County's population at 4,838,303, the largest in Texas. It covers 1,707 square miles of land, or about 2,834 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 32 places in the county (23 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is Houston, with about 2,328,253 residents, or 48% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Harris County
The median household income in Harris County is $74,983; statewide it is $78,476, so Harris County runs 4% below Texas as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Harris County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.6% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.8% | +0.3 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 16.3% of Harris County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. For a borrower in Harris County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Harris County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 70% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Harris County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Harris County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Harris County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,401 in Harris County versus $1,403 statewide. By the Census definition, 54% of Harris County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $276,600, about 3.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 55% of homes.
| Housing | Harris County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,401/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $276,600 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 55% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
For the many renters in Harris County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Regional comparison for Harris County
Six nearby counties, 31 to 48 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Harris County; Fort Bend County is highest at $114,041 and Liberty County lowest at $68,703.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | - | $74,983 | $1,401/mo | 55% |
| Montgomery County, TX | 31 mi | $97,701 | $1,532/mo | 72% |
| Fort Bend County, TX | 32 mi | $114,041 | $1,807/mo | 77% |
| Waller County, TX | 37 mi | $80,397 | $1,169/mo | 72% |
| Liberty County, TX | 39 mi | $68,703 | $1,044/mo | 82% |
| Chambers County, TX | 45 mi | $109,804 | $1,609/mo | 82% |
| Brazoria County, TX | 48 mi | $97,993 | $1,454/mo | 74% |
Towns and communities in Harris County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 32 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Harris County residents live in one of the 32. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in West University Place, $44,455 in Aldine. Median rent ranges from $1,155 in Cloverleaf to $3,501 in West University Place. Names with links open a city guide. The other 29 places are covered here.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | city | 2,328,253 | $64,813 | $1,361 | 5 mi |
| Pasadena | city | 149,433 | $64,927 | $1,213 | 20 mi |
| Pearland | city | 127,514 | $118,842 | $1,860 | 21 mi |
| Atascocita | CDP | 99,354 | $118,226 | $1,849 | 15 mi |
| Spring | CDP | 68,580 | $88,997 | $1,711 | 14 mi |
| Channelview | CDP | 43,605 | $64,422 | $1,279 | 17 mi |
| La Porte | city | 36,730 | $80,753 | $1,378 | 24 mi |
| Deer Park | city | 33,967 | $100,382 | $1,318 | 20 mi |
| Cloverleaf | CDP | 24,063 | $54,994 | $1,155 | 14 mi |
| Bellaire | city | 17,206 | $244,015 | $2,672 | 11 mi |
| Aldine | CDP | 17,167 | $44,455 | $1,428 | 4 mi |
| Humble | city | 16,521 | $57,011 | $1,330 | 12 mi |
| South Houston | city | 16,033 | $53,497 | $1,212 | 17 mi |
| West University Place | city | 14,982 | $250,001 | $3,501 | 10 mi |
Harris County households compared
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. 20.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Harris County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 20.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
What the numbers mean for Harris County borrowers
A few patterns in the Harris County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Harris County. For the 21% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 20% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Harris County budgets.
- Renters under pressure. When 54% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Harris County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Harris County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,249 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,401, takes 22% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $2,187 total minus rent leaves $786
- Under a 45% cap, $2,812 total minus rent leaves $1,411
If your rent is above $1,401, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Harris County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Harris County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Harris County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Harris County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Harris County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Harris County a high-income county?
Its $74,983 median ranks 52nd of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Harris County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,401 a month; 54% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Houston?
Yes, along with the other 31 Census places in Harris County, such as Pasadena, Pearland, Atascocita.
Is the fit check different in Harris County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Harris County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.