Harris County

Harris County, Texas, is a dynamic and diverse community with rich demographic insights worth exploring. Learn more about the people and trends shaping the area. Be sure to fill out the form and let us know what’s most important to you—we value your input!

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Harris County

How large is Harris County?


Harris County covers an area of approximately 1,778 square miles (4,615 square kilometers). It’s the third most populous county in the United States and includes the city of Houston.

Population, Gender, and Age Statistics

Population:
▪ Approximately 4,835,125, and it is expected to increase (Foreign-born: 26.4%).

Demographics:
▪ Gender: 50.4% female
▪ 49.6% male

Age Distribution:
▪ Under 18 years: 25.6%
▪ 18 to 64 years: 62%
▪ 65 years and over: 12.1%

Households, Median Incomes, and Poverty Rates

▪ Households: 1,728,103 with an average of 2.73 persons per household.
▪ Median Household Income: $72,336
▪ Poverty Rate: 16%

Race and Ethnicity
  • White: 67.8% (non-Hispanic: 27.0%)
  • Black: 21.1%
  • Asian: 7.7%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 44.1%
  • Two or More Races: 2.1%

Languages

Over 100 languages are spoken in Harris County.

▪ English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, French, Persian, Tagalog, Urdu, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, German, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Tamil, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Greek, Punjabi, Serbo-Croatian, and Hebrew.

Religions

▪ Christianity
▪ Judaism
▪ Islam
▪ Hinduism
▪ Buddhism
▪ Other Faiths: Mormons, Orthodox Christians, and Jehovah’s Witnesses
▪ Unaffiliated: atheists and agnostics

Education

Education Attainment in Harris County includes:
▪ Less than High School Diploma: 19.8%
▪ High School Graduate (includes equivalency): 36.1%
▪ Some College or Associate’s Degree: 20.8%
▪ Bachelor’s Degree: 19.3%
▪ Master’s Degree: 7.5%
▪ Professional or Doctorate Degree: 3.3%

Court System

Harris County operates under a Commissioners Court system:
▪ County Judge
▪ Commissioners Court ▪ County Clerk
▪ District Clerk
▪ County Treasurer
▪ County Attorney
▪ Sheriff
▪ District Attorney
▪ County Tax Assessor-Collector

Tax Structure

Harris County Tax Structure:
▪ Property Taxes
▪ Sales Tax
▪ Special Revenue Funds
▪ Disaster Recovery Funds

Harris County Budget

Harris County Budget for 2025 is approximately $6.2 billion.

General Fund:
▪ Around $2.8 billion.
▪ Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA): $1.2 billion.
▪ Harris County Hospital District: $1.1 billion.
▪ Flood Control District: $800 million.

Harris County Key Priorities in 2025
  • Disaster Preparedness and Recovery
  • Public Safety
  • Health and Human Services
  • Infrastructure and Transportation
  • Economic Development and Affordable Housing
  • Environmental Sustainability
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