Houston, Texas
Space City with global energy
U.S. News (2025)
#49 Best Places to Live
Forbes (2024)
#10 Best Cities for Jobs
WhereAtHome Score
72.1
C-out of 100
Overview
Houston is America's fourth-largest city and the energy capital of the world. The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex globally, and NASA's Johnson Space Center drives aerospace innovation. Extreme diversity, affordable housing for a major metro, and no state income tax attract residents from around the world.
Key Highlights
- Energy capital of the world
- Texas Medical Center - world's largest
- NASA Johnson Space Center
- Extremely diverse population
- No state income tax
- Major international port
Key Metrics
2024 Presidential Election
Harris County (county-level results)
Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more
Climate
Summer High
94°F
Winter Low
42°F
Annual Rainfall
50"
Sunny Days
204
Amenities & Infrastructure
380+ Parks
Green spaces and recreation
25 Major Hospitals
Healthcare access
8 Universities
Higher education institutions
Public Transit Available
Bus, rail, or metro service
Major Employers
Score Breakdown
6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.
Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)
How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)
Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)
Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)
Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)
Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)
Location
Compare with another city
Start ComparisonLast Updated: 2026-07-01
Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.
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