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County

Harris County

#22 in Best Counties to Live in Texas
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • County in Texas
  • 1,285 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
    B+
  6. Diversity
    A+
  7. Jobs
    B+
  8. Weather
    B
  9. Cost of Living
    B-
  10. Health & Fitness
    A
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B+
  12. Commute
    B-
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Harris County is located in Texas with a population of 4,434,257. Harris County is one of the best places to live in Texas. Living in Harris County offers residents a suburban feel and 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
4,434,257

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$145,600
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$937
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
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
    283
  • Murder
    10
    6
  • Rape
    58
    41
  • Robbery
    370
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    684
    500
  • Theft
    2,774
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    465
    284
Home Security Options for Harris County
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A+
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$55,584
National
$55,322
Children
23%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    11%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    19%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    27%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    23%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    20%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

    Harris County Reviews

    1,285 reviews
    All Categories
    I've lived in Harris County for all my life, and I love it! It's undergone a lot of development since we first moved here. This is now one of the most prominent parts in Houston. However, even with all the new development, they've still managed to keep to keep the greenery intact. The school system is wonderful; the staff, student, and curriculum are all top notch. The real estate market is expanding and you're sure to find a house you like. When we first arrived here the community wasn't very diverse. We were one of the only few minority families. However, now at least half the neighborhood consists of minorities and more seem to be coming in. Overall it's a great area to live in, my family and I have been very happy.
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    My family has lived here for 10 years and we love it. Thanks to constant flood plan appraisals we were able to pick a home that hasn't been flooded out despite natures many attempts! The schools are nice, plenty of law enforcement on the road, generally safe communities.
    I like the environment in Harris County. It is taken care of and is patrolled by the police all the time. It has great restaurants, diversity, and public schools. For a county this big there are many neighborhoods, public, and private schools to choose from. One negative is that there is always a lot of construction of major highways and roads which leads to major traffic and longer commute times. Being the third biggest county in the US, there are definitely issues but overall it is a very good county. I've grown up here my whole life and know of nothing different so when I'm traveling and come back Harris always feels like home.