Living in Houston, TX

"Dangerous" is too broad a label for any city, but Houston does sit above national averages on crime. The violent crime index is 117 and property crime hits 143 — both past the 100-point U.S. baseline. Plenty of residents live comfortably and safely, but they've usually chosen their neighborhoods carefully. If you're considering a move, visit first, drive around at night, and look up crime stats block by block. Data: FBI Uniform Crime Report.

Most households manage fine. Median rent in Houston is $1,313/month, and the typical household pulls in $62,894/year — a 25.1% rent-to-income ratio. That's under the 30% threshold where housing costs start to pinch, though not by a huge margin. If you're a single earner or have significant debt payments, run your own numbers carefully. For dual-income households, the math works out comfortably. Census ACS 2023.

Worth considering, yes. At 24 minutes average, the commute in Houston isn't brutal but it's not trivial either. 69.7% drive alone, 3.3% ride transit, and 11.7% work remotely. Where you live relative to your office will make a bigger difference than the city-wide average suggests.

Houston faces a moderate level of climate risk — score of 51/100. The top threats are Flood, Heat Wave, and Hurricane. None of these hit every year, but they're real possibilities that affect insurance rates and emergency planning. Make sure your policy covers the relevant perils, keep a basic emergency kit, and know your evacuation routes if you're in a flood-prone area. FEMA and NOAA data.

Mixed. The city-wide graduation rate is 82.0% and classrooms average 16 students per teacher. Some schools here are legitimately excellent — strong test scores, engaged communities, good resources. Others struggle. The gap between the best and worst is wider than you might expect. Do your homework on individual schools rather than relying on the city-wide number.

Somewhat. Expect to pay around $255/month for electricity, gas, water, and sewer — that's about $25 more than the national average of $230. Extreme temperatures (hot summers or cold winters), older housing stock, or higher local energy rates can all push bills up. Budget for seasonal peaks, and look into energy-efficient appliances if you're buying.

For most people, no. The median AQI of 55 puts Houston in the "Moderate" category — fine for healthy adults, though sensitive groups (asthma, COPD, young kids) should pay attention on higher days. 195 days per year qualify as "Good." Ozone is the leading pollutant. Worth monitoring if you have respiratory conditions, but not a reason to avoid the city. Daily data at AirNow.gov.

A fair amount. The total effective tax rate is roughly 10.3% when you combine income, property, and sales taxes. Sales tax alone is 8.3%. That's close to the national average — not punishing, not light. If you're relocating from a low-tax state, run the numbers for your income level before committing. The difference can add up to thousands per year.

Mostly, yes. The system scores 79/100, with 0 health-based violations on record and a "low" lead risk rating. That's a solid track record. Most residents drink tap water without issues. If you're in an older building with pre-1986 plumbing, a basic filter is a cheap precaution. For detailed contaminant info, check EWG's Tap Water Database.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; school data from the National Center for Education Statistics; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.