Perceptions of Crime & Safety in Houston
A large share of Houston-area residents perceive crime as a serious regional issue.
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.
Perceptions of Crime & Safety in Houston
A large share of Houston-area residents perceive crime as a serious regional issue.
Concern for Democracy and the U.S. Political System Among Houston-Area Residents
Most Houston residents value democracy, yet widespread dissatisfaction with the U.S. political system leaves many local residents wanting societal change.
Mexican Migrants in Houston: Patterns of Migration Over Time
Today's Mexican migrants in Houston are older, more educated and more likely to be married. As traditional family networks weaken, they are increasingly becoming long-term residents, reshaping the city's social and economic landscape.
Discrimination Experiences in Greater Houston: Prevalence, Types, Perpetrators and Health Impacts
This study examines residents' experiences with various forms of discrimination and their broader impacts.
Rising living and utility costs are eroding housing security, hitting low-income families the hardest.
Social cohesion is positively related to civic behavior across the Houston region, but this association varies depending on neighborhood disorder.
Coffee & Quality Case Study #6: Prevent Blindness Texas
This case study finds that most Prevent Blindness Texas clients have adequate access to care, but strategic partnerships and provider expansion are needed to bridge Texas' regional gaps.
Methodological Paper: GHCP Neighborhood Area Creation — 2025 Update
Researchers grouped similar neighborhoods into larger, custom geographic units to estimate local survey responses and compare regions.
Houston-Area Residents’ Connections to Previously Incarcerated Individuals
Half of Houston-area residents know someone who has been incarcerated, though personal connections vary widely by neighborhood and race.
Kinder Houston Area Survey: 2026 Results
Residents are concerned about job prospects, mounting financial pressures and environmental hazards. This report also examines how social cohesion is related to resident well-being.
Rice University
Kraft Hall
6100 Main Street, Suite 305
Houston, TX 77005-1892