Methodological Paper: GHCP Neighborhood Area Creation — 2025 Update

METHODOLOGICAL PAPER : Jun. 16, 2026

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Researchers grouped similar neighborhoods into larger, custom geographic units to estimate local survey responses and compare regions.

The Greater Houston Community Panel (GHCP) tracks local attitudes across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, drawing 8,000 to 10,000 responses per survey from more than 11,000 members. 

Because this sample size is too small for granular census-tract analysis, researchers combined neighborhoods with similar demographic, housing and socioeconomic characteristics into larger, customized geographic units. Fifty-three regions were created — 28 in Harris County, 15 in Fort Bend County and 10 in Montgomery County — each containing at least 140 GHCP members. These regions can be used to generate reliable, localized survey estimates and conduct meaningful cross-regional comparisons.

Suggested citation: DeLisi, A. (2026). Methodological paper: GHCP Neighborhood Area creation — 2025 update. Houston Population Research Center, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25611/C4TF-RC30

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Greater Houston Community Panel

The Greater Houston Community Panel is composed of thousands of scientifically selected adults in Harris County, Fort Bend County and Montgomery County, Texas, who are regularly surveyed about their families and communities, including their health, well-being, expectations, opinions, priorities and aspirations.

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