Houston Disparity Atlas

Although the median household income in Houston in 2014 was roughly $45,700, the city’s income is not evenly distributed, either by household or by geography. For example, more than 20 percent of Houston’s households earned double the median income or more (approximately $91,000), while another 20 percent earned half the median income or less (approximately $22,800).

There is also considerable disparity in household income across racial and ethnic groups. For example, non-Hispanic whites are far more likely to have higher household incomes, whereas non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics are most likely to have low household incomes.

Through the maps presented below, we seek to show where Houston’s economic opportunities and challenges are concentrated. Those familiar with the city’s demography and economy will not be surprised by these maps. But what is striking is the consistency across each of the maps, which suggests that there are multiple layers to Houston’s social and economic disparities.