The document summarizes key findings from 32 years of surveys tracking the economic and demographic transformations in Houston. It finds that Houston has shifted from a primarily industrial economy to a more diverse one focused on services and technology. Demographically, the region has become vastly more diverse, with declining white populations and rapid growth of Hispanic and Asian communities. Younger generations are more accepting of diversity and see the increasing diversity as strengthening culture. The surveys show residents are optimistic about jobs but concerned about inequality. Overall, Houston has maintained its economic optimism while undergoing significant cultural and demographic changes.

1. The Changing Face of Houston:
Tracking Responses to the Economic and Demographic Transformations through 32 Years of Surveys
Dr. Stephen Klineberg
H.A.R. H-Town Day 2013
17 October 2013

2. 1900-1982
Houston was
basically a “one-horse”
industrial town focused
2
on refining
hydrocarbons into
gasoline and
petrochemicals
and servicing the
oil and gas industry.

3. “The ideological thrust in
Houston in the twentieth
century has been
anti-government,
anti-regulation,
anti-planning,
anti-taxes,
anti-anything
that seemed to represent,
in fact or fantasy, an
expansion of the public
sector or a limitation on
the economic prerogatives
and activities of the city’s
business community.”
(Robert Fisher 1990)
3

4. The 32nd Houston Area Survey (1982-2013)
More than three decades of
systematic interviews with
representative samples of
Harris County residents,
focused on three central issues:
4

5. Percent increase in before-tax income
Two contrasting
economic eras
110%
116%
111%
114%
100%
99%
86%
63%
50%
43%
The 30 years after World
War II were a period of
broad-based prosperity.
The past 30 years have
been marked by growing
concentrations of wealth.
-3%
-10%
2%
5%
15%
Bottom
20%
Second
20%
Middle
20%
Fourth
20%
The 30 years after World War II (1949-1979)
The past 30 years (1979-2011)
5
Top
20%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social And Economic Supplements.
Mean Household Income Received By Each Fifth And The Top 5 Percent, Inflation Adjusted.
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Top
5%

6. The new economy (2013)
“For a person to be
successful in today’s
world, is it necessary
to get an education
beyond high school?”
73%
The traditional “blue
collar path” to financial
security has now
largely disappeared.
25%
“Or are there many
ways to succeed with
no more than a high
school diploma?”
2%
Don’t know/Can’t say
6
Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The New Economy

7. Positive perceptions of
job opportunities in the
Houston area (1982-2013)
100%
Percent rating job opportunities as “excellent” or “good”
71% of Houstonians in 1982
66% 68%
gave positive ratings to job
opportunities in Houston.
50%
43%
58%
58%
42%
48%
41%
36%
35%
25%
11%
0%
82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
7
Source: Kinder Houston Area Survey (1982-2013)
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The New Economy

8. The official unemployment
rates in Harris County
(1982-2013)
11.0
10.0
9.8
10.1
8.6
9.0
8.0
7.8
8.4
7.3
6.8
7.0
6.5
6.8
6.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
4.3
3.0
82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
8
Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The New Economy

9. Arts, culture, sports
Air and water quality
Green spaces,
Bayous
Transportation trees
Urban centers
Hiking, boating,
birding

10. Life in the
Houston area
compared to
other U.S.
metro areas
(2005-2013)
“Compared to most other metropolitan areas in the
country, is Houston a better or worse place to live?”
100%
78%
85%
86%
89%
90%
“Much/slightly better”
50%
17%
8%
7%
6%
“Much/slightly worse”
0%
05
10
9%
Source: Kinder Houston Area Survey (2005-2013)
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
07
09
11
13

11. The City of Houston
2.1 million
600 sq. mi.
Baltimore
0.6 million
81 sq. mi.
Chicago
2.7 million
228 sq. mi.
Philadelphia
1.5 million
134 sq. mi.
Detroit
0.7 million
139 sq. mi.
11
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Quality of Place

12. The 10-county Houston
metropolitan region
5.9 million
10,062 sq. mi.
Massachusetts
6.6 million
10,550 sq. mi.
12
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
New Jersey
8.8 million
8,729 sq. mi.
Quality of Place

13. Housing preferences
(2008-2012)
"If you could choose where to live in the Houston area,
which would you prefer? "
A single-family home with a big yard,
where you would need to drive almost
everywhere you want to go.
2010
2008
2012
A smaller home in a more urbanized
area, within walking distance of shops
and workplaces.
58%
59% 47%
39%
36% 51%
Don’t know/Can’t say
13
Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Quality of Place

14. 1978
© of MacLean
QualityAlex Place

15. 2011
© of MacLean
QualityAlex Place

17. Major U.S. immigrant cities
Boston
San Francisco
Chicago
New York City
Washington D.C.
Los Angeles
San Diego
Dallas
Atlanta
Miami
Houston
17
Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The Demographic Revolution

18. The demographic
transformations of
Harris County
Population in Millions
4
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
7.7%
6.7%
3
4.1%
15.5%
2.1%
15.5%
2
0.8%
9.9%
0.3%
1
6.0% Asians
20.1%
19.8%
Latinos
Blacks
Asians
19.7%
Latinos
Blacks
Asians
22.7%
Latinos
Blacks
19.1%
Asians
Latinos
32.9%
Blacks
18.2%
Asians
Asians
Latinos
40.8%
Latinos
Blacks
18.4%
Blacks
Anglos
0
73.9%
1,243,258
18
Anglos
69.2%
1,741,912
Anglos
62.7%
2,409,547
Anglos
54.0%
2,818,199
Source: U.S. Census. Classifications based on Texas State Data Center Conventions.
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Anglos
42.1%
3,400,578
33.0%
Anglos
4,092,459
The Demographic Revolution

19. The demographic changes
in Fort Bend County and
Montgomery County
Fort Bend County
600,000
Montgomery County
1990 2000 2010 199020002010
19.0%
Asians
4.0%
15.5
13.1%
300,000
6.5%
21.1%
19.5%
Asians
19.6%
Latinos
Blacks
20.3%
53.8%
0
225,421
19
Anglos
46.2%
354,452
23.7% Latinos
Asians
Latinos
21.1% Blacks
Blacks
4.1%
2.5%
12.6%
3.4%
7.3%
4.2%
Anglos
36.2% Anglos
585,375
Source: U.S. Census. Classifications based on Texas State Data Center Conventions.
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
1.0%
87.5%
182,201
Asians
Latinos
Blacks
Anglos
81.4%
293,768
20.8%
Asians
Latinos
Blacks
Anglos
71.2%
455,746
The Demographic Revolution

20. Harris County total population
Anglo majority
Black majority
Latino majority
No majority
20
1980
Color represents demographic group being a majority in that census tract.
Source: Outreach Strategists, LLC
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The Demographic Revolution

21. Harris County total population
Anglo majority
Black majority
Latino majority
No majority
21
1990
Color represents demographic group being a majority in that census tract.
Source: Outreach Strategists, LLC
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The Demographic Revolution

22. Harris County total population
Anglo majority
Black majority
Latino majority
No majority
22
2000
Color represents demographic group being a majority in that census tract.
Source: Outreach Strategists, LLC
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The Demographic Revolution

23. Harris County total population
Anglo majority
Black majority
Latino majority
No majority
23
2010
Color represents demographic group being a majority in that census tract.
Source: Outreach Strategists, LLC
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The Demographic Revolution

24. Percent of the population
by age group and ethnicity
in Harris County in 2010
All others
79%
Non-Hispanic
Whites
57%
43%
21%
0-4
24
5-9
10 - 14 15 - 19 20 - 24
25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64
Source: Hobby Center for the Study of Texas
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
65 +
The Demographic Revolution

25. Percent of the population
by age group and ethnicity
in the state of Texas in 2010
Non-Hispanic
Whites
68%
All others
68%
32%
32%
0-4
25
5-9
10 - 14 15 - 19 20 - 24
25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64
Source: Hobby Center for the Study of Texas
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
65 +
The Demographic Revolution

26. Percent of the population by
age group and ethnicity in the
United States in 2010
Non-Hispanic
Whites
80%
All Others
51%
49%
20%
0-4
26
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
Source: Hobby Center for the Study of Texas
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65+
The Demographic Revolution

27. Percent of the population by
age group and ethnicity in the
United States in 2050
All Others
Non-Hispanic
Whites
63%
59%
42%
37%
0-4
27
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
Source: Hobby Center for the Study of Texas
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65+
The Demographic Revolution

28. The shift in attitudes toward
immigrants during the past
four years (2009-2013)
Percent of respondents agreeing
90%
83%
68%
55%
64% 66%
71%
74%
61%
55%
51%
For: granting a path
to legal citizenship.
Admit about the
same or more legal
immigrants.
47%
The new immigration
mostly strengthens
American culture.
0%
09
28
11
13 09
10
Source: 2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
11
12
13 09
11
The Demographic Revolution
13

29. Inter-ethnic romantic relationships by age
among Anglos (2007 and 2011 combined)
Anglo respondents who report having been in a romantic
relationship with someone who was not Anglo.
57%
49%
42%
25%
10%
18-29
29
61%
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70+
Source: 2007 and 2011 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
The Demographic Revolution

30. Percent of Anglo respondents agreeing, by age
Ethnic
attitudes by
age among
Anglos
(2007–2013
combined)
The increasing ethnic
diversity brought about
by immigration is a
“good thing,” rather
than a “bad thing.”
71%
18-29
61%
30-44
45-59
57%
48%
60+
18-29
Grant illegal immigrants a
path to legal citizenship, if
they speak English and
have no criminal record.
74%
30-44
65%
45-59
60%
60+
55%
18-29
The increasing immigration
into the U.S. today mostly
“strengthens,” rather than
“threatens,” American culture.
30-44
43%
45-59
42%
60+
30
Source: 2007-2013 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey
© Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research
68%
35%
The Demographic Revolution

31. Today’s pro-growth agenda
Houston will need to nurture to
The Houston region will need a far
Houston will need to develop into a
more educated appealing urban
grow into a moreand technicallytruly successful multiethnic
trained workforce, and invest in
destination, while accommodating
society, with equality of opportunity
the research centers that will fuel
an expected 3.5 million additional
for all communities, where all are
the engines of the new economy.
residents during the next 20 years.
encour-aged to participate as full
partners in shaping the region’s
future.
The Demographic Revolution

32. kinder.rice.edu
kinder@rice.edu
713-348-4132
/InstituteForUrbanResearch
@RiceKinderInst
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