Houston by the Numbers
If there’s one word that’s most used when describing Houston, it’s definitely "sprawl." In Houstonia’s Summer 2024 cover package, "Welcome to Boomtown," we examined the many ways the city is growing, from far-flung suburbs to green spaces funded by deep pockets. Here’s a look at Houston’s growth by the numbers.
Energy and Industry
- 237,000+ | Houstonians who work in the
energy
industry
.
Parks and Recreation
- $77M | Average
annual
budget
of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) between 2021 and 2023.
- 3,000 | Acres covered by the
bayou
greenways
project.
- $97M | Private funding of Houston parks and green spaces in 2023.
- 75% | Gallery space increase at MFAH with the Kinder Building addition.
Infrastructure and Transportation
- 23 | Miles covered by Houston’s
METRORail
. DART in Dallas has 93 miles.
- 666 | Public parks in Houston, 377 of which HPARD is responsible for.
- 23,000 | New houses built in Houston in 2023, the most of any city nationwide.
Housing and Development
- $338,000 | Median
home price
in Houston in March 2024.
- 40% | Share of people moving to the Houston metro area
from out of the country
.
- 3,966 | People who moved to Houston from
Los Angeles
, San Francisco, and New York between February and April 2024.
- $469,400 | Average cost of a home in
Bridgeland
in March 2024.
Agriculture and Community
- 235 | Acres in Indigo, a new "agri-hood" in Fort Bend County with car-free zones and a community farm.
- 12 | Master-planned communities in the Houston area that made RCLCO’s top 50 best-selling list in 2023.
Tall Buildings and History
- 75 | Number of stories in the
JPMorgan Chase
tower, the tallest in Texas.
- 17 | Years neighbors fought the so-called Ashby high-rise, now finally being built as
The Langley
.
Floods and Development
- 204,000 | Homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey, most outside the 100-year floodplain.
- 1% | Acreage remaining of Texas’s rain-absorbent
coastal prairie
.
- 60,404 | Katy Prairie acres that were paved over by development between 2001 and 2019.
- $763 | Average annual cost, in Harris County, for
flood insurance
.
- 199,761 | National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Harris County.
- 1,235 | Homes, as well as 331 businesses and 5 places of worship, TxDOT plans to take to
expand I-45
.
Conclusion
Houston’s growth is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, driven by a combination of factors including its strong energy industry, abundant green spaces, and thriving housing market. As the city continues to evolve, it is important to consider the impact of development on the environment and the community.
FAQs
Q: What is the average cost of a home in Houston?
A: $338,000 in March 2024.
Q: How many public parks are there in Houston?
A: 666, with 377 maintained by HPARD.
Q: What is the average annual budget of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department?
A: $77M between 2021 and 2023.
Q: How many new houses were built in Houston in 2023?
A: 23,000, the most of any city nationwide.
Q: What is the average annual cost of flood insurance in Harris County?
A: $763.
Q: How many National Flood Insurance Program policies are in force in Harris County?
A: 199,761.
