The Town FilesSouth Houston, Texas
City in Harris County · population 16,153 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $189,300
- Household income
- $53,497
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 81
- Median age
- 31.2
South Houston is a city of 16,153 people in Harris County, Texas. The median home is worth $189,300, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 96% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 91% of Texas towns.
How South Houston ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Houston is worth $189,300, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $53,497, which is more affordable than 29% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,212 a month. 55.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Houston | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,300 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,212 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $53,497 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 55.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in South Houston
| People | South Houston | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 33.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in South Houston
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 46.1°F. About 55.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 101 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 4 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
81 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Houston since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 21, 1992 about 5.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 179 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 1992.
Severe weather in Harris County since 1996
Harris County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Harris County
Harris County had 2,445,972 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,554 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in South Houston itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in South Houston
12 public schools with 8,079 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH HOUSTON H S | 9-12 | 2,214 | 15.0 |
| BEVERLY HILLS INT | 7-8 | 775 | 11.4 |
| L F SMITH EL | PK-4 | 605 | 13.8 |
| STUCHBERY EL | PK-4 | 603 | 12.8 |
| SOUTH HOUSTON INT | 7-8 | 567 | 10.9 |
| PEARL HALL EL | PK-4 | 540 | 15.0 |
| GENOA EL | PK-4 | 533 | 11.8 |
| BURNETT EL | PK-4 | 528 | 12.0 |
| MATTHYS EL | PK-4 | 520 | 14.9 |
| FRAZIER EL | PK-4 | 451 | 12.5 |
| SOUTH HOUSTON EL | PK-4 | 432 | 13.5 |
| TEXANS CAN ACADEMY - HOUSTON HOBBY (charter) | 9-12 | 311 | 20.7 |
Towns near South Houston
- Pasadena, TX4.7 mi · 151,950 people · home $209,600
- Galena Park, TX5.8 mi · 10,740 people · home $117,700
- Deer Park, TX7.0 mi · 34,495 people · home $264,600
- Jacinto City, TX7.3 mi · 9,613 people · home $156,200
- Pearland, TX9.2 mi · 125,828 people · home $356,300
- Cloverleaf, TX9.4 mi · 24,100 people · home $169,600
- Friendswood, TX10.7 mi · 41,213 people · home $420,100
- La Porte, TX10.8 mi · 35,124 people · home $234,600
South Houston questions
Is South Houston, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Houston scores better for retirees than 0% of Texas towns and quieter than 0%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.2).
How much does a house cost in South Houston?
The median owner-occupied home in South Houston is valued at $189,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,497, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,212 a month.
What is the weather like in South Houston?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 46.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South Houston get tornadoes?
81 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Houston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 21, 1992. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)