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Harris County

#20 in Best Counties to Live in Texas
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • County in Texas
  • 1,326 reviews
    A
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B+
    2. Crime & Safety
      C
    3. Housing
      C+
    4. Nightlife
      A+
    5. Good for Families
      A-
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      B+
    8. Weather
      B
    9. Cost of Living
      B-
    10. Health & Fitness
      A
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A-
    12. Commute
      C+
    View Full Report Card
    Harris County is located in Texas with a population of 4,525,519. Harris County is one of the best places to live in Texas. In Harris County, most residents own their homes. In Harris County there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Harris County and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Harris County are above average.
    Population
    4,525,519

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $154,100
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $976
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    —
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      45%
    • Own
      55%
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    Harris County Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      539.4
      282.7
    • Murder
      10.2
      6.1
    • Rape
      58
      40.7
    • Robbery
      369.6
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      684.2
      500.1
    • Theft
      2,774.4
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      464.6
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      15%
    • 10-17 years
      12%
    • 18-24 years
      10%
    • 25-34 years
      16%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      13%
    • 55-64 years
      11%
    • 65+ years
      10%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      11%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      20%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      27%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      23%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      19%
      13%

    Working in Harris County

    Jobs
    B+
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $57,791
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Harris County
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

      Harris County Reviews

      1,326 reviews
      All Categories
      I have lived in Harris County for 11 years now and I have love it here! The schools in Harris County are excellent. Over the years, there has been a decrease in fights and an increase in test scores. The area is populated with good restaurants and the traffic is moderate. One thing I would like to see is for roads to be completed as soon as possible. Construction allows for traffic to be backed up and it's a minor inconvenience.
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      I absolutely love how Harris County is somehow serene and calming but also exciting and extremely enthralling with its people and the stories and action they bring. I am happy to be living in Harris County, Houston, Texas!
      I live in the small town of Huffman, Texas and attend Hargrave High School. I like that we have many small businesses in my town and it isn't too busy around here. When you need something from the store you can just drive across the bridge to get what you need and it doesn't take long at all. It's perfect because all the larger businesses and stores are far enough away that they aren't right where I live, but at the same time, they're still super close so it isn't an inconvenience.
      I also like the school I attend. I like the students and the teachers and have always felt safe. In fact, we even had an incident this past school year when I child brought a weapon to school, but the teachers and administrators handled everything very professionally and even then I still felt safe. After the incident, my school implemented a program called "tip lining" where we can anonymously report when something bad happens or whenever we suspect something might happen that shouldn't.