Houston ( HEW-stən) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County. Covering a total area of 640.4 square miles (1,659 km2), it is the ninth largest city in the country and the largest whose municipal government is not consolidated with a county, parish, or borough. Although p…

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How Houston ranks

All →

#56Most conserved land in TX #69Lowest depression in TX #105Closest to a top hospital in TX All TX rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code77001, 77002, 77003

Area code281, 832, 713

Living in Houston

Housing in Houston

$262K▼ 2.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Houston home is worth about $262,000, down 2.3% in a year, 13% below the Texas typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market41

Sale-to-list97.2%

Sold in May1,830

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Houston

D⁻

Safety Grade D-

Houston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Houston 8.9

Texas 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Houston 38.1

Texas 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Houston

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 39% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 54% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Texas

2better than TX·6worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 2▼ 8 close Habits all close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 1▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5%Fewer adults who have had cancerTX 6.1% · better 19.3%Fewer adults with arthritisTX 21.6% · better 16.3%More older adults who have lost all their teethTX 12.5% · worse

Care nearby

St. Joseph Medical CenterHouston · 2.9 mi · ER

Salvation Army Adult Rehab CtrHouston · 1.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

23 hospitals · 15 health centers in Houston →

Primary careShortage · part of Houston

DentalShortage · part of Houston

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Houston · CMS · HRSAHealth in Houston →

Natural hazards in Houston

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 80% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌀 Hurricanes🌪️ Tornadoes

71,124Does Houston flood?paid flood claims since 1978 14Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Houston MapHouston vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Houston →

Schools in Houston

All Houston schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Houston’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 84% of Texas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Houston’s schools compare in TX →

DistrictHOUSTON ISDSchools773

Harmony Science Academy-Katy B+Elementary · Grades PK–7 · 1,347 students Piney Point El C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 1,286 students Pilgrim Academy C-Elementary · Grades PK–8 · 1,233 students KIPP Mosaic PriElementary · Grades PK–5 · 1,092 students KIPP Sharp Prep B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 1,078 students KIPP Connect Houston Pri BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 1,056 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within TX. Ratings are from neighbors.