While Houstonians may be divided on political issues, the 2025 Kinder Houston Area Survey offers a rare glimpse of unity across the metro area.
Expanding its scope to include Fort Bend and Montgomery counties for the first time since 2018, the study reveals that despite geographic, economic and ideological differences, residents across the region share a strong sense of civic identity and common hopes for Houston’s future.
Residents in Harris County also shared their biggest concerns facing the Houston area today, including crime and safety, the economy and the cost of housing.
“In order for us to continue to be an attractive community and to offer a high quality of life, we also have to understand our challenges,” said Dr. Ruth López Turley, director of the Kinder Institute of Urban Research, agreeing that those with a higher earning have a more positive outlook of Houston. “Our earnings have not kept up with the cost of housing.”
So, what do the 9,800 adults surveyed agree on?
A shared identity: “We are Houstonians”
One of the survey’s most striking findings is that most residents across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties identify as Houstonians, regardless of whether they were born in the region or moved here later in life.
This civic pride is not superficial. Across the three counties, more than 60% to 75% of the residents have lived in the area for over 15 years. While 41% of residents were born in Harris County, 39% of residents moved in as adults.
A majority also believe the Houston area offers a better quality of life than other major metro regions in the U.S.
Diversity and opportunity: Houston’s greatest strengths
A majority of the people surveyed said Houston’s people, economic opportunities and its activities make the city special.
While diversity topped the list, access to jobs and affordable cost of living followed close behind. Houston’s reputation as a city of opportunity is also reflected in the confidence residents have in its job market: 70% rated job opportunities as above average, a hopeful sign amid concerns about inflation and housing costs.
Local culture, family and friends, activities, entertainment and the food and restaurant scene were also among the picks.
Nearly 65% of respondents also commended the region’s higher education institutions.
Government’s role in equity and access
Perhaps the most significant is the widespread agreement that the government must play a larger role in helping job seekers find employment opportunities and closing income gaps.
Most respondents (88%) believe that “the government should see to it that everyone who wants to work can find a job.” In comparison, others (81%) agreed that the government should take action to reduce economic inequality between the rich and poor.
The support for these answers spans political affiliations and countries, indicating a regional consensus that economic prosperity should be shared.
In Harris County, where nearly half (45%) of the residents say they cannot cover an unexpected expense, these findings reflect not just opinion but lived reality. According to the survey, 14% of respondents earn less than $25,000 a year and another 17% make between $25,000 and $50,000. These figures show the urgency behind the call for more equitable economic policies, workforce support and social safety nets.
Immigrants seen as economic and social assets
Even views on undocumented immigrants were strikingly inclusive. In another sign of regional unity, most were supportive of the contributions immigrants make to the U.S. economy, regardless of their legal status.
Across the three counties, Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery residents (72%, 71% and 61%, respectively) than those of (61%), believe immigrants contribute more than they take from the economy. A smaller number of respondents agreed that undocumented immigrants contribute more than they take.
Infrastructure and environment: the region’s weak spots
While Houstonians took pride in their region, they were also clear about its shortcomings. Local infrastructure, public transit and air and water quality were top issues of contention.
More than 60% of respondents rated the region’s infrastructure as “fair” or “poor.”
“When you think about what the city’s priorities are reflected in how we spend money [budget], public safety is by far number one and infrastructure, which is reflected in debt service is number two,” said City Controller Chris Hollins, based on the City of Houston’s findings.
Harris County, with its sprawling geography and legacy of underinvestment in flood-prone neighborhoods, received particularly low marks for air and water quality. Nearly a quarter of residents rated their air and water quality as poor, and 4 in 10 said it was only “fair.”
Public transit remains another pain point. A majority of Fort Bend and Montgomery County residents (70%) said their counties’ transportation systems were subpar, compared to 63% in Harris County.
Looking forward
The survey provides more than data. For Black communities in Houston, the survey affirms long-held truths: equity and access must be centered in any policy conversation.As the region’s leadership debates budgets, transit projects, housing plans and storm recovery strategies, this year’s survey reminds us what Houstonians are truly asking for — opportunity, fairness and an equitable future.
