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Harris County, Texas: crime rate, income and local data
The violent-crime rate in Harris County was 7.5 per 1,000 residents (2021-2025 average, FBI), 84% higher than the statewide rate (4.1). Median household income is $74,983 and the unemployment rate was 5.0% in August 2026. About 4,838,303 people live in the county.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Harris County?
Police agencies in Harris County reported an average of 36,364 violent crimes and 153,419 property crimes a year from 2021 to 2025. That is 7.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 84% higher than the Texas rate (4.1), and about 2.0 times the U.S. rate (3.7). Burglary, theft and car theft together come to 31.5 per 1,000 residents, compared with 21.1 across Texas. Most violent crimes here are aggravated assaults (68%). CDC death records show about 488 homicide deaths a year in the county (10.4 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Harris County | Per 1,000 | Texas per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 36,364 | 7.5 | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 522 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 2,804 | 0.58 | 0.52 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 8,425 | 1.7 | 0.66 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 24,612 | 5.1 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 153,419 | 31.5 | 21.1 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 21,512 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 106,638 | 21.9 | 14.8 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 25,268 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (24 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Harris County?
The median household in Harris County earns $74,983 a year, close to the Texas median ($78,476). The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $276,600 by its owners; renters pay a median $1,401. 13.4% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 11.4%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 5.0% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 126,999 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Harris County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,838,303 | 30,188,424 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $74,983 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $276,600 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,401 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 6.7% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 16.3% | 13.8% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 13.4% | 11.4% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 34.2% | 33.8% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 54.7% | 62.6% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 34.6 | 35.6 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 92.1% | 91.4% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 20.9% | 17.1% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Harris County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Harris County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Very High”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are tornadoes (Very High), river flooding (Very High), hurricanes (Very High) and heat waves (Very High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
EPA lists 13 active Superfund sites (final or proposed) in Harris County: Patrick Bayou, Many Diversified Interests, Inc., Sikes Disposal Pits, French, Ltd., Highlands Acid Pit, Geneva Industries/Fuhrmann Energy, plus 7 more. 3 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
Harris County has 6 dams classed as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. 1 is rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 2 Satisfactory or Fair. The two tallest are Lake Houston Dam (66 ft) and Addicks Dam (49 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
358 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 43,855,881 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
Harris County was covered by 7 federal major disaster declarations from 2016 through 2025 (Flood 4, Hurricane 2, Severe Ice Storm 1), not counting COVID-19. EPA air monitors logged 47 days in 2024 when the air quality index reached “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse. Of 712 community water systems, 22 had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 3 (low). NHTSA counted 583 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 170 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Harris County?
No highway work zones were listed in Harris County in the October 11, 2026 state feed. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel. The map's layer refreshes every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Harris County?
Federal school lists show 1204 public and 240 private schools in the county. 98 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 233 fire or EMS stations and 76 police or sheriff stations. 1 state park or recreation area: Sheldon Lake State Park.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Harris County
Gun shops
228 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Harris County (223 from the ATF licensee list, 5 from OpenStreetMap), plus 205 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 158 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: 10Ring Com (Houston), A & P Armory (Tomball), A & P Pawn & Jewelry (Houston), A-1 All-American Pawn Shop (Pasadena), Academy Sports & Outdoors (#18) (Houston), Academy Sports + Outdoors #021 (Humble), Academy Sports + Outdoors #10 (Houston), Academy Sports + Outdoors #116 (Houston) and 215 more.
Liquor stores
615 liquor stores are on the map in Harris County: & Liquor #407 (Houston), 5 Star Liquor (Houston), 50 50 Liquor (Humble), 99 Ranch Market (Houston), @Bottle King Liquor (Houston), A & R Liquor (Spring), A & Y Liquor (Houston), A N Liquor (Spring) and 607 more.
Planned Parenthood
3 Planned Parenthood health centers are on the map in Harris County: Planned Parenthood (2 in Houston) and Planned Parenthood (Spring).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Harris County?
Harris County averaged 36,364 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 7.5 per 1,000 residents, 84% higher than the Texas rate (4.1). The property-crime rate was 31.5 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Harris County?
$74,983 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $78,476 for Texas and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Harris County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 5.0% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 126,999 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Harris County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Harris County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Very High”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are tornadoes (Very High), river flooding (Very High), hurricanes (Very High) and heat waves (Very High).
Are there Superfund sites in Harris County?
EPA lists 13 active Superfund sites (final or proposed) in Harris County: Patrick Bayou, Many Diversified Interests, Inc., Sikes Disposal Pits, French, Ltd., Highlands Acid Pit, Geneva Industries/Fuhrmann Energy, plus 7 more. 3 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list.
Is there road construction in Harris County right now?
No highway work zones were listed in Harris County in the October 11, 2026 state feed. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel.
How many nursing homes are in Harris County?
98 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Harris County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazoria County | 391,255 | 1.7 | $97,993 |
| Chambers County | 51,498 | 2.7 | $109,804 |
| Fort Bend County | 893,767 | 1.5 | $114,041 |
| Galveston County | 358,990 | 2.6 | $86,105 |
| Liberty County | 103,380 | 2.7 | $68,703 |
| Montgomery County | 684,432 | 2.1 | $97,701 |
| Waller County | 61,552 | 2.6 | $80,397 |
Cities in Harris County with their own page: Houston, Pasadena, Pearland, The Woodlands, Atascocita, Baytown, Spring.
More: Texas statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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