Harris County, TX Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Harris County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,796,196 | 30,143,883 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2697.0 | 112.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.03% | 1.36% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 33.2 | 35.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,727,859 | 10,745,192 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Harris County grew by 21.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 4,754,311 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Harris County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Harris County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,272 | $76,510 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.85% | 4.76% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Harris County is about 4% lower than in Texas.
Housing
| Metric | Harris County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $268,485 | $248,418 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,348 | $1,338 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.8% | 62.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Harris County is about 16.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,348 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Harris County spend about 55 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 228 hours, about 9.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Harris County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 27.4 | 22.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 54.7 | 45.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 228 | 190 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,071 | $5,877 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 12.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 19,607 | 9,879 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,587 | 1,441 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Texas:
Loving County (3.4 min), Terrell County (5.1 min), Culberson County (6.1 min).
Slowest:
Bandera County (37.3 min), Liberty County (33.7 min), Wilson County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Harris County is 27 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Texas.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Harris County has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Harris County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.3% | 29.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.73 | 2.70 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Texas:
Collin County (0.4), Travis County (0.4), Fort Bend County (0.4).
Lowest:
Kenedy County (0.0), Hudspeth County (0.1), La Salle County (0.1).
Health
Harris County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Harris County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 78.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 19.2% | 21.1% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.6% | 19.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Texas:
Collin County (0.8), Travis County (0.8), Denton County (0.8).
Lowest:
Starr County (0.7), Brooks County (0.7), Presidio County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Harris County, Texas.
What is the population of Harris County, Texas?
The population of Harris County, Texas is 4,796,196, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Harris County, Texas?
The population density of Harris County, Texas is 2697.0 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Harris County, Texas?
The median household income in Harris County, Texas is $73,272, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Harris County, Texas?
The median home price in Harris County, Texas is $268,485, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Harris County, Texas?
The unemployment rate in Harris County, Texas is 6.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.