For years, the Kinder Houston Area Survey has identified crime and public safety as one of the “biggest problems” facing the Houston region. A late 2025 survey of over 9,000 area residents examined safety perceptions and personal experiences with local crime.
Note: Survey questions prioritized clarity and public accessibility rather than strict adherence to legal definitions.
Key findings
- While most residents feel their neighborhood is safe, only 56% feel that way about the broader region.
- Over 60% of residents said they experienced a crime or unwanted incident in the past year, most commonly road rage (44%) and harassment or annoying behavior (25%).
- The most frequently reported neighborhood problems included street racing (37%), robbery/burglary (29%) and car theft (29%).
- Most residents reported that crime levels in their neighborhood have remained stable, though perceptions vary across neighborhoods.
