Houston’s diversity and affordability continue to attract Asian residents, but economic inequality persists.
From 2010 to 2023, the Houston region added nearly 1.5 million residents, making it one of the fastest-growing metros in the nation. Asian residents drove much of that growth, increasing by 60%, faster than any other racial/ethnic group.
The Asian American Community Study (AACS) is a multiyear, multilingual initiative exploring the diverse experiences of Asian residents across the Houston region. Combining AACS data with responses from the 44th annual Kinder Houston Area Survey, this brief examines what draws Asian residents to the region, what they value about living here and the challenges they think could affect the region’s long-term prosperity.
Key findings
- Diversity and cost of living were most often cited as the “best things about living in Houston.”
- High ratings were also given to Houston’s culture, activities and parks and greenspace, with high but more variable ratings for job opportunities.
- Most Asian residents moved to the Houston area as adults, primarily for job-related reasons.
- Pakistani and Vietnamese residents were more likely than other groups to cite family as their main reason for moving.
- Asian residents often chose to stay because of the life they have built in Houston and proximity to family and friends.
- Between 80% and 90% of residents of each Asian ethnicity rated their quality of life in Houston as good, very good or excellent.
- While overall satisfaction was high, Asian residents identified several challenges.
- Traffic was cited as the biggest problem facing Houston across all ethnicities.
- Lower ratings were also given to infrastructure, public transportation, public safety and air and water quality.
- Economic inequality persists across and within Asian ethnicities.
- Around 60% of Asian Indian, Chinese/Taiwanese, Filipino, Japanese and Korean residents reported making $100,000 or more.
- Higher shares of Vietnamese, Pakistani, Other Asian and multiracial Asians reported incomes below $25,000 and were more likely to be unable to pay a $400 emergency expense.
- Continued population growth is not guaranteed, as about one-third of Asian residents across ethnicities report considering leaving the region.
