RANK #901 / 996 · POP 4,726,177 · TX
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.7%
Home to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, where Texas won its independence, Harris County is located on the upper Gulf Coast in Southeast Texas. It encompasses 1,778 square miles, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. The county seat, Houston, is the largest city in Texas. Commuting within the county is primarily done via a network of highways, with public transit options like METRO buses and Park & Ride services also available. The landscape transitions from coastal prairie in the south to rolling timberlands in the north, with numerous parks and bayous offering outdoor recreation opportunities.
Life in Harris County offers a diverse experience, with a population that is a mix of cultures, languages, and traditions. The county is served by over 20 school districts, including the Houston Independent School District, and is home to higher education institutions. The economy is driven by sectors such as energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, and aerospace. Major investments in these areas contribute to job opportunities, attracting a workforce that supports these industries.
Above national median
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.4x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
TIRZ 24 Infrastructure and Investment Study Projects
Harris County Redevelopment Authority and TIRZ 24
|
$715M | Planned |
|
NRG Greens Bayou Natural Gas Plant Expansion
NRG Energy, Inc.
|
$617M | Planned |
|
Beacon Storage (Battery Project)
Undisclosed
|
$409M | Planned |
|
NRG T H Wharton Natural Gas Facility
NRG Energy, Inc.
|
$360M | Planned |
|
HOU2 Data Center
TRG Datacenters
|
$240M | Under Construction |
|
Destiny Storage Project (Battery Energy Storage System)
Cypress Creek Renewables
|
$133M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Harris County has a Boom Town Index score of 10/100, ranking #901 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.0% and a median household income of $70,789, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Harris County is $235,300 with median rent at $1,269/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3008, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.0%. Home values changed -2.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.01% of Harris County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.