The 2023 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston

2023 State of Housing

Photo by J King on Unsplash

The 2023 State of Housing report builds on prior reports by focusing on renters and renting.

The 2023 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston is the fourth comprehensive study of its kind. Previous State of Housing reports tracked various housing indicators and the pandemic's impact on the local housing market. This year's report focuses exclusively on renters: renting affordability and eviction, renter cost burden, the growth of investor landlords and rental habitability.

Key findings include:

  • From 2015 to 2021, increases in monthly rent prices outpaced increases in median household income. 
  • As of 2021, a majority of renter households in the city and county are housing cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
  • When accounting for household size, income and other essential costs, more than 6 in 10 rental households are cost-burdened.
  • When looking at housing conditions, nearly 1 in 5 rental structures in Harris County was graded “below average” by the Harris Central Appraisal District in 2021.
  • A quarter of Harris County’s single-family homes are rentals. Of Harris County’s 1,099,193 single-family rental homes, an estimated 10,385 were owned by a small set of multistate corporate investors, and an additional 38,703 were owned by other corporate entities (e.g., limited liability companies).

Data from the 2023 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report can be accessed from the Kinder Institute's Urban Data Platform. A data dashboard with neighborhood-level indicators about homeownership, home purchasing, demographics and other factors is also available.

Findings from this report were shared during a webinar, which also featured a panel of local housing experts. The 2023 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report and webinar are made possible with lead funding from Wells Fargo. 

SUPPORTING MATERIALS
2023 State of Housing Data Dashboard
Sep. 20, 2023 DASHBOARD
RELATED URBAN EDGE
Man walking by graffiti that says Home Sweet Home
Renting in Harris County is increasingly unaffordable and fraught with other challenges
RESEARCH :  Jul. 25, 2023

This year’s State of Housing in Harris County and Houston focuses on renters and renting. A majority of Houston households rent, as does a soon-to-be majority of the county’s households. This means renting and rental policy play an increasingly important role in determining the region’s quality of life.

HOUSING
RELATED URBAN EDGE
Homeownership LISC
Pathways to homeownership: Collaborative aims to open doors in Houston, Harris County
PERSPECTIVES :  Aug. 21, 2023

The dream of homeownership remains an enduring aspiration for countless individuals and families across the United States. However, the reality often falls short, especially in urban areas grappling with housing affordability challenges, including Houston.

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IN THE NEWS
2023 State of Housing: Majority of renters in Harris County and Houston are cost-burdened
Jul. 25, 2023 - RICE NEWS
A majority of Harris County renters are ‘cost burdened’ by rising rent prices, report says
Jul. 25, 2023 - HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA
5 takeaways from the State of Housing report on Houston, Harris County
Jul. 25, 2023 - HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Houston Matters - July 26, 2023 (Guest: Steve Sherman)
Jul. 26, 2023 - HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA
New study shows the majority of Harris County renters are struggling: 'It's stressful'
Jul. 26, 2023 - ABC13
Majority of Houston, Harris County renters are cost-burdened
Jul. 26, 2023 - AXIOS HOUSTON
‘The rent eats first’: 2023 report reveals struggles faced by Houston renters
Jul. 26, 2023 - COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWS
‘There’s no way I could survive here’: Houston, Harris County rent up by 28.5%, according to Kinder Institute
Jul. 26, 2023 - KPRC 2
Harris County, Houston struggle with soaring housing costs: New report reveals alarming trends
Jul. 28, 2023 - FOX 26
Report: More Than Half of Harris County Households Cost-Burdened
Jul. 31, 2023 - PLANETIZEN
Majority of Houston residents are renters, report reveals
Aug. 1, 2023 - HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
RELATED INITIATIVES
State of Housing

The Kinder Institute’s State of Housing in Harris County and Houston reports provide annual updates across a variety of housing-related indicators tracking shifts in the region's housing system. 

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