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Population Review

Census ACS · #5 MSA

Houston Metro Area

The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Tx Metropolitan Statistical Area has 7,274,714 residents. The median household income is $80,458 and the median home value is $275,200.

7,274,714

Population

823

People / sq mi

$80,458

Median Income

$275,200

Median Home Value

The Houston CBSA covers 8,839 sq mi of land at 823.1 people per square mile.

Race & Ethnicity

White45.3%
Black or African American17.3%
Asian0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1.9%

Economy & Income

$80,458

Median Household Income

$41,559

Per Capita Income

10.7%

Poverty Rate

4.0%

Unemployment

Cost of Living

The Houston metro's price level is 98.6 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 1.4% lower the US average. The local median income of $80,458 has the buying power of $81,576 in average-priced US metros.

98.6

Price Level (US = 100)

$81,576

COL-Adjusted Median Income

$80,458

Nominal Median Income

Housing

$275,200

Median Home Value

$1,378

Median Rent

61.2%

Homeownership

Education

85.1%

High School+

35.4%

Bachelor's+

Commute

1.6%

Drive Alone

11.9%

Work From Home

29.9 min

Avg Commute

20.6%

Foreign Born

Houston spans this state

Nearby metros

Largest cities in Texas

Largest counties in Texas

Part of Texas

Other metros

Metro areas in Texas

Metro rankings

Frequently Asked Questions

The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Tx Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 7,274,714 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #5 largest CBSA in the US.

The median household income in the Houston metro area is $80,458, with a per capita income of $41,559.

The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Tx CBSA spans the state of Texas.

Where to stay near Houston

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Data for the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Tx CBSA (26420) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.

What distinguishes Houston is density: among the most densely settled of US metro areas, around 823 people per square mile. Houston is a metro area in TX with a population of 7,274,714.

Households take in a median $80,458, comfortably near the US median of $78,538. Poverty runs at 10.7%, below the national 12.4%. Home values run above average at $275,200, with typical rent around $1,378.

Educational attainment is on the higher side for US metro areas — 35.4% of adults hold a four-year degree, near the national 35.0%.

That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Houston: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.