Downtown Houston can be seen from Midtown.
Live amid the cultural tapestry of Museum Park, where diversity flourishes.
Public transportation is easily accessible in the Medical Center district.
The football stadium at Rice University draws a large crowd for games.
Memorial Park near Cottage Grove beckons with vast greenery, offering a serene escape.

Houston, TX

Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,185

Population

2,393,902

Renter Mix

59% Rent

The largest city in the Lone Star State

Vibrant Diverse Historic

Rich in culture, attractions, and talent, Houston is the biggest city in Texas. With hundreds of years of history and people from across the globe, Houston is one of the nation’s most unique, diverse urban communities in the world. Each neighborhood in town, especially the Historic Six Wards, all have unique offerings. The city is great for any age and lifestyle with apartments, houses, and townhomes available for every budget from affordable neighborhoods to upscale living.

Houston offers a wealth of attractions and landmarks that excite residents and visitors alike. Snap a selfie in front of Beyoncé’s childhood home or visit the famous NASA Johnson Space Center. Sports fans love the city for its abundance of big-league facilities. Cheer on the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center or catch a ball game at Minute Maid Park. NRG Stadium and the Shell Energy Stadium beckon football and soccer fans, respectively.

Indulge your curiosity at institutions like the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Houston Zoo. View art from the Paleolithic era to the present at the Menil Collection. Fashionistas adore the Galleria, a high-end retail center with a seasonal rink, and the stores at Willowbrook Mall. Outdoor adventure abounds at numerous green spaces around the city, including Memorial Park, George Bush Park, Cullen Park, and Discovery Green.

Access to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and major highways makes a commute from your Houston apartment easy. San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas are all just a short drive away. Housing options in Houston include houses for rent as well as apartments, condos, and townhomes. Houston also has an active market of homes for sale.

Explore the City

Public transportation is easily accessible in the Medical Center district.

The football stadium at Rice University draws a large crowd for games.

Memorial Park near Cottage Grove beckons with vast greenery, offering a serene escape.

George Bush Park neighborhood's real estate values benefit from the park's presence.

Eleanor Tinsley Park in Houston offers spectacular views of Houston’s downtown skyline.

I-10 skirts the edge of the Heights, offering easy access to downtown Houston.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$56,401

Average: $86,033

Education

681,956

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

1,206,871

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

36 Years

Largest Age Group

30-39 Years

Approximately 16% of Residents

Under 20

26%

Over 65

14%

Housing Distribution

Houston has more renters than homeowners.

Renters
59%
Non-Renters
41%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
24%
Other Education
76%

Rent Trends

As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Houston, TX is $1,081 for a studio, $1,185 for one bedroom, $1,503 for two bedrooms, and $1,940 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Houston has decreased by -1.2% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,185/month
724 Sq Ft
House
$2,610/month
1,911 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,019/month
1,339 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,886/month
1,422 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Houston, TX

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Houston, TX is 7.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Houston is 20.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,081 - $1,940. You can expect to pay 2.2% less for groceries, 8.7% less for utilities, and 4.3% less for transportation.

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Learn More About Houston

Getting Around

Moderately Walkable

Walkability

60 / 100

Some Public Transit

Transit

40 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Schools

West University Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

1,114 Students

T H Rogers School

Public

Grades K-12

1,063 Students

Farney Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

928 Students

Oak Forest Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

878 Students

Valley Oaks Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

876 Students

Lanier Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,434 Students

T H Rogers School

Public

Grades K-12

1,063 Students

Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion

Public

Grades PK-8

739 Students

Cornerstone Academy

Public

Grades 6-8

365 Students

Project Chrysalis Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

270 Students

T H Rogers School

Public

Grades K-12

1,063 Students

Debakey High School For Health Professions

Public

Grades 9-12

916 Students

Carnegie Vanguard High School

Public

Grades 9-12

841 Students

Challenge Early College High School

Public

Grades 9-12

454 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
  • Memorial Park and Golf Course
  • Buffalo Bayou Park
  • Woodland Park
  • Discovery Green

Commuter Rail

Airports

  • George Bush Intcntl/Houston
  • William P Hobby

Top Apartments in Houston

Houses for Rent in Houston

Living in Houston

Highlights

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Renters in the largest city in Texas pay an average of $1,324/month to rent an apartment, 1% lower than the Texas state average. City dwellers exploring houses for rent in Houston can expect to pay around $1,779/month. For those looking to buy, the average house is valued at $293,000, compared to the state average of $290,863.

When comparing Houston to cities in Canada, Edmonton is a similar big city. Their team is even named The Oilers!

Top destinations include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Space Center Houston, the Galleria, Minute Maid Park, Discovery Green, Hermann Park, and the Children’s Museum of Houston.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.