Texas Counties › Harris County
Retiring in Harris County, Texas
Major cities: Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Pearland · Population 4,731,000 · Data last verified 2026-06-10
How does Harris County compare for retirement? Below is every figure we track, drawn exclusively from public government sources. To see how Harris County ranks against all 30 major Texas counties for your priorities, run the free comparison.
Compare Harris County against 29 other counties →Taxes & Housing
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average annual property tax | $5,053 |
| Effective property tax rate | 2.15% |
| State income tax | 0% (Texas has none) |
| Combined sales tax rate | 8.25% |
| Median home value | $235,000 |
Cost of Living
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 99 |
| Housing cost index | 93 |
| Grocery cost index | 98 |
| Median household income | $63,000 |
Source: BEA RPP 2022 (Houston MSA)
Healthcare
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Hospitals in county | 45 |
| Average CMS hospital star rating | 4.1 / 5 |
| Physicians per 100,000 residents | 340 |
| Trauma center | Yes |
Top-rated hospitals: Methodist Hospital; Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center
Climate
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average annual temperature | 71°F |
| Average humidity | 75% |
| Extreme heat days per year (95°F+) | 100 |
| Extreme weather days per year | 55 |
| Annual rainfall | 49″ |
Economy
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% |
| Average salary | $59,000 |
| Major industries | Energy, Healthcare, Aerospace, Manufacturing |