While other major metropolitan areas have seen population growth stall or reverse, Houston continues to expand — economically, demographically and culturally. Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research reveals what’s drawing people in, how they feel about the region and what challenges need to be addressed to sustain that momentum.
The 2025 Kinder Houston Area Survey, one of the nation’s longest-running studies of an urban area, was released today at the institute’s annual luncheon.
The findings show that most residents are proud to call Houston home and point to its diversity, immigrant population and economic opportunity as defining strengths. At the same time, many are concerned about inequality, affordability and safety.
This year’s findings are based on responses from the largest sample in the survey’s 44-year history drawn from the Greater Houston Community Panel, which now includes more than 10,000 members from Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties — a region that represents 1 in 5 Texans. The panel’s size now rivals national surveys such as the Pew American Trends Panel, underscoring the scale and rigor behind the research.
“The Kinder Institute is committed to providing accessible data, research and engagement to help our community take action — that’s our mission,” said Kinder Institute director Ruth N. López Turley. “And with the growth of the Greater Houston Community Panel, we’re now able to study an even wider area with even more depth.”
The survey is a signature project of the Kinder Institute, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. The institute’s Houston Population Research Center oversees the survey and administers the panel, which participates in surveys year-round.
“Residents are telling us they appreciate and value the people who make up the Houston area, and that includes our immigrant population, which represents 1 in 4 people in Harris and Fort Bend counties and 1 in 8 in Montgomery county,” said Dan Potter, director of the Houston Population Research Center.
At the luncheon, the institute also honored Camden CEO Ric Campo with the Stephen L. Klineberg Award, which is given to individuals in recognition of their civic leadership and contributions to the Houston area.
“Over five decades, Ric has had a tremendous impact on Houston and the quality of life here,” Turley said. “We are grateful to have business leaders who understand that as our region prospers, we must keep working to ensure that prosperity benefits everyone.”
Key findings from the 2025 survey include:
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88% of residents want the government to ensure job access for all who want to work, and 81% agree the government should act to reduce inequality between rich and poor — the highest levels of support recorded in survey history on both items.
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80% of residents across all three counties identify as Houstonians, including nearly two-thirds who moved here as adults, and 80% believe Houston is a better place to live than other major metropolitan areas.
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People in all three counties tend to rate their quality of life as good, very good or excellent with Harris County reporting slightly lower (71%) rates compared to Fort Bend (83%) and Montgomery counties (80%)
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Yet 40% have considered leaving the region; 16% said it is very likely or extremely likely they’ll move.
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Top concerns include crime (25% in Harris County) — even as crime rates are falling — and traffic (about 1 in 4 in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties), suggesting a return to prepandemic commuting patterns.
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Residents across all counties say immigrants contribute more than they take from the economy with Harris (71%) and Fort Bend (72%) counties leading. Majorities in Harris (64%) and Fort Bend (56%) counties also agreed that undocumented immigrants contributed more than they take, while 48% of Montgomery County residents said the same.
According to U.S. Census data, the Houston metropolitan area has added more than 1.5 million people since 2010 — a 25% increase that ranks it second only to Dallas-Fort Worth among the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas.
To request interviews with Kinder Institute researchers, contact Kat Cosley Trigg at kat.cosley.trigg@rice.edu.