The Houston metro is home to 7,274,714 people (up 7.3% over five years), with a median household income of $80,458. Typical rent of $1,638/month works out to 24.4% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Houston's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 20.9% |
| Professional & management | 13.4% |
| Retail trade | 10.5% |
| Construction | 9.7% |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.4% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Houston market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,638/month suggests a household income around $66,000/year. The metro's median household income is $80,458.
By workforce share: Education & health care (20.9%), Professional & management (13.4%), Retail trade (10.5%) (Census ACS 5-year).