Houston Population
Research Center

The Houston Population Research Center collects and disseminates data to understand social and demographic change in Houston, Texas — the nation’s fourth-largest city and one of its most diverse.

The center provides analytic and methodological support to the Kinder Institute's other research activities to identify solutions to the city’s most pressing problems around housing, health, education, and economic mobility.

Additionally, the population center facilitates the collection and sharing of data to support other research efforts at Rice University focused on socioeconomic disparities and population change.

Initiatives

Kinder Houston Area Survey

Greater Houston Community Panel

Election 2023 Survey

Asian American Community Study

Population Health

Research

Houston and Harris County Disaster Preparedness and Attitudes Leading Up to the 2024 Hurricane Season

This research study examines the current levels of both perceived and actual disaster preparedness among Houston and Harris County residents, as well as contextual and sociocognitive predictors of each.

BRIEF: May 5, 2025

Financial Knowledge, Banking, and Fintech in Houston and Harris County

This snapshot explores Houston-area residents' self-reported financial knowledge, use of banks and use of more modern financial technology applications.

SURVEY SNAPSHOT: April 24, 2025 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, URBAN DISPARITY

89th Texas Legislative Session: Priorities and Policy Views

This survey snapshot examines the top priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature among residents across the Greater Houston area, including Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties.

SURVEY SNAPSHOT: April 2, 2025 EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNANCE

2024 Storm Impacts in Houston and Harris County: A Descriptive Overview

This brief provides an overview of the cumulative impact extreme weather had on Houston and Harris County residents from late April to early July.

BRIEF: March 13, 2025 HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH

Housing Affordability and Instability

Houston-area residents were asked how difficult it was in the past 12 months to afford housing costs, and if certain factors contributed to the difficulty they experienced

SURVEY SNAPSHOT: February 13, 2025 HOUSING

Beyond Dollars and Cents: Exploring Budgeting, Saving, and Financial Security in the Houston Area

This study explores Harris County residents’ financial security, looking at their budgeting and saving practices, barriers people face to budgeting and saving, and how these practices relate to someone being able to withstand economic shocks.

REPORT: January 13, 2025 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Voting Intention and Election Concerns in Advance of the 2024 U.S. General Election

This study explores people’s intention to vote in the 2024 U.S. general election.

BRIEF: October 21, 2024 ELECTIONS

Mental Health and Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Residents in the Houston Area

This series of briefs provides a demographic snapshot of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals in the Houston area and looks at how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted their mental health and well-being. The series also explores mental health care service use and barriers to utilization.