Community
BY SARAH BRAGER
Houston-area residents identify biggest economic concerns
9,000 responses between January and February from the Greater Houston Community Panel, which includes residents from Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. The 45th annual Kinder Houston Area Survey provides a snapshot of the changing attitudes and experiences of Greater Houston communities.
concern about extreme weather and pollutants, indicates residents across the region are feeling more discouraged compared to this time last year, according to the study. However, researchers found that strong community relationships and social cohesion could pave the way for progress. Rice University researchers collected nearly
In a one-year snapshot of changing attitudes in Greater Houston, residents expressed the largest drop in con dence about regional job opportunities in more than four decades, according to survey results released April 27 from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Increased nancial pressure, coupled with
Top 3 identi ed “biggest problems” facing the Houston area in 2026 Overall, more concern shifted toward the economy and away from other challenges, such as crime and safety and tra c, compared to the same time in 2025.
Percent of residents concerned about the environment’s effect on their health, by income level A greater percentage of low-earning residents indicated they are moderately, very or extremely concerned about the environment’s e ects on their health compared to the high end of the income spectrum, survey results show.
Economy Crime & safety Tra c Cost of housing
24% 21% 14% Harris County
24% 17% 17%
28% 18% 16%
Fort Bend County
Montgomery County
Income group
SOURCE: KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH COMMUNITY IMPACT
Less than $25,000
81%
Changes in nancial pressure over past year by income level
Respondents answered the question, "Compared to 12 months ago, would you say that you and your household are better o , about the same, or worse o nancially?"
$25,000-$49,999
75%
Better o
About the same
Worse o
$50,000-$99,999
20%
47%
33%
Less than $25,000
73%
24%
51%
25%
$25,000 to $49,999
$100,000-149,999
28%
50%
22%
$50,000 to $99,999
66%
26%
53%
21%
$100,000-149,999
$150,000+
31%
54% 15%
$150,000 or more
58%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Percentage of residents
SOURCE: KINDER HOUSTON AREA SURVEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: KINDER HOUSTON AREA SURVEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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