Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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The Gulf Coast Region2022 Regional Report

Gulf Coast Region Snapshot

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About the 2022 Regional Reports

The 2022 regional reports use the latest available annual data from a variety of state and federal sources on or about Sept. 1, 2021. The data for the 2020 U.S. Census is as of Oct. 1, 2021. Sources include JobsEQ, REMI, Texas A&M Real Estate Center, Texas Department of Transportation, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

The 13-county Gulf Coast region covers about 13,900 square miles in eastern coastal Texas, stretching from Huntsville in the north to Matagorda Bay and Galveston along the Gulf Coast.

The Gulf Coast region includes one metropolitan statistical area (MSA), the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA, which includes the counties of Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller. The region’s other four counties are not associated with an MSA.

This report examines regional economic information and trends regarding population, personal income, jobs and wages, and education, as well as economic conditions unique to the Gulf Coast region.

Demographics

Population

According to the 2020 Census, the Gulf Coast region had a population of about 7.3 million, or 25 percent of the state’s total population. About 65 percent of the region’s population was concentrated in Harris County. While the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA accounted for almost 98 percent of the region’s population, the city of Houston alone accounted for about 32 percent of the region’s population (and about 8 percent of the state population).

The region’s population has grown about 20 percent (more than 1.2 million people) since the 2010 Census, compared to 15.9 percent growth statewide. Despite overall growth in the region, two of the 13 counties in the region lost population during the past 10 years.

The median age in the Gulf Coast region was 34.5 years in 2019, similar to the state median age of 34.6 years. The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA’s median age (34.3 years) was close to that of the state. Waller (28.9 years) was the youngest county in the region and Colorado (42.9 years) was the oldest (Exhibit 1). An area’s age distribution can reveal specific challenges. A younger county may prioritize education and workforce development, for example, while an older county might face retirement issues and higher health care costs.

Exhibit 1
Gulf Coast Region Population by County, 2010 and 2020
County 2010 Census 2020 Census Change
2010 to 2020
Percent Change Median Age
Austin 28,417 30,167 1,750 6.2% 40.7
Brazoria 313,166 372,031 58,865 18.8% 35.8
Chambers 35,096 46,571 11,475 32.7% 35.2
Colorado 20,874 20,557 -317 -1.5% 42.9
Fort Bend 585,375 822,779 237,404 40.6% 36.3
Galveston 291,309 350,682 59,373 20.4% 37.7
Harris 4,092,459 4,731,145 638,686 15.6% 33.5
Liberty 75,643 91,628 15,985 21.1% 35.5
Matagorda 36,702 36,255 -447 -1.2% 38.2
Montgomery 455,746 620,443 164,697 36.1% 37.1
Walker 67,861 76,400 8,539 12.6% 35.3
Waller 43,205 56,794 13,589 31.5% 28.9
Wharton 41,280 41,570 290 0.7% 37.3
Gulf Coast Region Total 6,087,133 7,297,022 1,209,889 19.9% 34.5
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA 5,920,416 7,122,240 1,201,824 20.3% 34.3
City of Houston 2,099,451 2,304,580 205,129 9.8% 33.0
Texas Total 25,145,561 29,145,505 3,999,944 15.9% 34.6

Note: Median age data for the counties are from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015 to 2019;
Region median age calculations are from JobsEQ.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau


Median Household Income and Income Distribution

The Gulf Coast region had a median household income of $68,140 in 2019, up from $55,602 in 2010, a 22.5 percent increase. Median household income in Texas, by comparison, was $61,874 in 2019, up 24.6 percent from 2010.

The region’s income distribution finds proportionally more households in the top quintile when compared to Texas as a whole (Exhibit 2).

Exhibit 2
Gulf Coast Region vs. Texas Household Income Distribution, 2019
Income Level Gulf Coast Region State Total
less than $25,000 17% 19%
$25,000 to $49,000 20% 22%
$50,000 to $74,999 17% 18%
$75,000 to $99,999 12% 13%
$100,000 or more 33% 29%

Note: Figures may not sum due to rounding.

Source: Income distribution derived by JobsEQ using data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2015 to 2019.


Education

Occupational Earnings by Educational Attainment Requirements

A strong educational foundation provides a cornerstone for growth and competitiveness in the global economy. Postsecondary education delivers a good return on investments of time and tuition.

Data for 2021 indicate that occupations in the Gulf Coast region requiring at least an associate degree or certificate earned an average of $5,100 more annually than those requiring less than a postsecondary education. Occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $50,400 more (Exhibit 3).

Exhibit 3
Occupational Levels and Average Annual Wages by Educational Attainment Requirements, Gulf Coast Region and Texas, 2021
Educational Attainment Number Employed, Region Percent of Region Average Annual Earnings, Region Number Employed, Texas Percent of Texas Average Annual Earnings, Texas
No Postsecondary Award 2,236,505 59.6% $43,600 9,051,532 61.8% $44,733
Associate Degree or Certificate 279,792 7.4% $48,700 1,120,514 7.6% $47,600
Bachelor's Degree 801,149 21.3% $94,000 2,987,310 20.4% $88,800
Postgraduate Degree 441,196 11.7% $114,100 1,509,671 10.3% $110,300

Note: Figures may not sum due to rounding.
Sources: JobsEQ; Education requirement category assignments are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics


Regional Institutions of Higher Education

A postsecondary education offers opportunity for greater job prospects, workplace advancement, higher wages and the development of a richer world view. The Gulf Coast region offers a variety of options for higher educational achievement, including 10 universities, 11 junior and community colleges, and six health science schools (Exhibit 4).

Exhibit 4
Gulf Coast Region Institutions of Higher Education and Enrollments, Fall 2020
Institution Type of Institution Fall 2020 Enrollment
Houston Baptist University University 3,963
Prairie View A&M University University 9,248
Rice University University 7,546
Sam Houston State University University 21,654
South Texas College of Law Houston University 999
Texas Southern University University 7,015
University of Houston University 47,060
University of Houston-Clear Lake University 9,053
University of Houston-Downtown University 15,239
University of St. Thomas University 3,681
Alvin Community College Junior or Community College 5,591
Brazosport College Junior or Community College 3,829
College of the Mainland Community College District Junior or Community College 4,335
Galveston College Junior or Community College 2,060
Houston Community College System Junior or Community College 38,020
Lee College Junior or Community College 4,271
Lone Star College System District Junior or Community College 70,694
San Jacinto Community College Junior or Community College 31,110
Texas Chiropractic College Junior or Community College 255
Texas State Technical College-Fort Bend Junior or Community College 688
Wharton County Junior College Junior or Community College 6,099
Baylor College of Medicine Health Science School 1,580
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Health Science School 5,611
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Health Science School 358
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Health Science School 3,393
Sam Houston State College Medical School Health Science School 75
University of Houston College of Medicine Health Science School 30

Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board


Health Care

Availability of Hospital Services

Residents of the Gulf Coast region have access to a variety of hospital services. General hospitals offer a comprehensive range of services and facilities for medical diagnoses and treatments, including surgical services. Special hospitals provide clinical laboratory facilities, diagnostic X-ray facilities, treatment facilities or other definitive medical treatments (Exhibit 5).

For a list of facilities offering services other than hospitals – such as rural health clinics, community mental health centers and birthing centers – visit Texas Health and Human Services.

Exhibit 5
Major Health Care Facilities, Gulf Coast Region, 2021
Facility Type Number of Facilities Total Number of Beds Average Number of Beds Per Facility
General Hospital 78 16,060 205.9
Special Hospital 37 2,023 54.7
Private Psychiatric Hospital 16 1,547 96.7
State Psychiatric Hospital 0 0 0.0

Note: State psychiatric hospitals data as of February 2019
Source: Texas Department of Health and Human Services


Health Care Access

Access to health care facilities adds to the viability of a community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the share of Texans without health insurance — 18.4 percent in 2019 — was twice the national average of 9.2 percent.

In 2019, the rate of uninsured in the Gulf Coast region ranged from a low of 15 percent in Fort Bend County to a high of 25.6 percent in Wharton County; the overall rate for the region was 21.7 percent (Exhibit 6). (For additional information, see Uninsured Texans, Fiscal Notes, October 2020.)

Exhibit 6
Gulf Coast Region, Uninsured by County, 2019
County Uninsured Population Percent Uninsured
Wharton 8,663 25.6%
Colorado 4,092 24.8%
Harris 998,337 24.2%
Waller 10,533 23.9%
Liberty 16,352 22.8%
Austin 5,181 21.6%
Matagorda 6,192 20.8%
Walker 8,758 19.2%
Galveston 49,934 17.4%
Montgomery 90,482 17.3%
Brazoria 52,277 16.4%
Chambers 6,126 15.9%
Fort Bend 107,300 15.0%
Gulf Coast Region 1,364,227 21.7%

Note: Uninsured population includes under 65 (ages 0-64) only.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SAHIE (Small Area Health Insurance Estimates)


Regional Economy and Employment

In 2020, the Gulf Coast region had a gross domestic product (GDP) of $495.7 billion, about 27.9 percent of Texas’ statewide GDP of $1.8 trillion. Between 2010 and 2020, GDP rose by an average annual rate of 3.3 percent, slightly less than the statewide average annual rate of 3.6 percent. In 2020, GDP fell from the previous year by 4.1 percent, less than the state’s GDP fall of 4.7 percent. (GDP values not adjusted for inflation.) Preliminary data for the first two quarters of 2021, however, suggest a significant economic rebound in many industries and regions.

Regional Employment Levels

Of the more than 3.2 million people employed in the Gulf Coast region in 2020, 98 percent live in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA. Between 2010 and 2020, employment rose in the area by 15.2 percent, a slower pace than in the state (17.1 percent) and higher than in the U.S. (7.8 percent) (Exhibit 7).

Exhibit 7
Gulf Coast Region Employment, 2020
Locality Total Employed, 2020 Change 2010 to 2020 Percent Change 2010 to 2020
United States 150,028,344 10,838,037 7.8%
Texas 13,164,072 1,924,421 17.1%
Gulf Coast Region 3,204,326 422,894 15.2%
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA 3,139,251 420,960 15.5%

Source: JobsEQ using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages


Regional Industries

In the five-year period between 2015 and 2020, overall employment in the Gulf Coast region remained flat. During this period, by comparison, jobs rose by 3.3 percent in Texas and fell by 0.5 percent in the U.S.

The Gulf Coast region’s largest industry sectors by employment are restaurants, education and health care. Architectural, engineering and building services are among the largest industries in the region (Exhibit 8).

Exhibit 8
Top 10 Gulf Coast Region Industries by Employment, 2020
Industry Employment Average Annual Wages Location Quotient Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 222,782 $20,550 1.16 -4,205 -1.9%
Elementary and Secondary Schools 209,514 $49,024 1.26 10,941 5.5%
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 99,568 $75,055 0.78 7,279 7.9%
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 70,418 $113,533 2.02 -3,765 -5.1%
Employment Services 67,310 $48,178 0.99 -7,841 -10.4%
Services to Buildings and Dwellings 64,764 $30,500 1.16 -236 -0.4%
Grocery Stores 62,717 $28,822 1.07 4,846 8.4%
Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools 60,963 $83,050 0.97 1,965 3.3%
Home Health Care Services 59,355 $21,859 1.71 6,267 11.8%
Offices of Physicians 55,638 $96,303 0.95 3,361 6.4%
Total - All Industries 3,204,326 $67,460 1.00 477 0.0%

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages


Warehousing and storage, health care services and management industries were among the leaders in regional job gains between 2015 and 2020 (Exhibit 9).

Exhibit 9
Gulf Coast Region Industries with Largest Total Growth, 2015 to 2020
Industry Employment Average Annual Wages Location Quotient Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020
Warehousing and Storage 25,901 $45,370 0.82 13,525 109.3%
Elementary and Secondary Schools 209,514 $49,024 1.26 10,941 5.5%
Management of Companies and Enterprises 44,086 $176,286 0.89 7,921 21.9%
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 99,568 $75,055 0.78 7,279 7.9%
Home Health Care Services 59,355 $21,859 1.71 6,267 11.8%

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages


Using the location quotient (LQ) — a measure of an industry’s relative size in a region compared to its average size in the nation — industries supporting oil and gas and petrochemical production are highly concentrated and unique to the regional economy. An LQ of 1.25 or higher indicates that the region has a comparative advantage in the industry (Exhibit 10).

Exhibit 10
Top Gulf Coast Region Industries by Location Quotient, 2020
Industry Employment Average Annual Wages Location Quotient Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 3,790 $131,363 14.35 826 27.9%
Oil and Gas Extraction 34,861 $252,527 12.01 -18,753 -35.0%
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 7,520 $203,965 11.24 1,046 16.2%
Space Research and Technology 2,936 $138,381 7.83 30 1.0%
Basic Chemical Manufacturing 22,704 $144,660 7.13 51 0.2%
Support Activities for Mining 31,988 $139,649 6.21 -13,912 -30.3%
Other Pipeline Transportation 1,035 $152,890 5.73 -301 -22.5%
Agriculture, Construction and Mining Machinery Manufacturing 23,827 $118,350 5.61 -15,186 -38.9%
Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers 10,632 $186,717 5.00 3,558 50.3%
Support Activities for Water Transportation 10,012 $55,895 4.94 -1,951 -16.3%

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages


Regional Occupations

Occupations with high levels of employment and relative concentration reflect the industrial composition of the region. The Gulf Coast region has large numbers of people in health care, fast food and retail occupations, in addition to truck driving and building cleaning (Exhibit 11).

Exhibit 11
Top Gulf Coast Region Occupations by Employment, 2020
Occupation Employment Average Annual Wages Location Quotient Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020
Laborers and Material Movers 116,554 $30,700 0.89 7,996 7.4%
Fast Food and Counter Workers 84,563 $21,600 1.16 2,851 3.5%
Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers 79,984 $44,100 1.09 5,274 7.1%
Retail Salespersons 78,855 $27,100 0.97 -8,389 -9.6%
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 75,992 $43,000 1.08 -7,159 -8.6%
Building Cleaning Workers 74,087 $25,400 1.08 -2,790 -3.6%
Office Clerks, General 73,369 $41,800 1.20 -349 -0.5%
Cashiers 68,491 $24,100 0.95 -1,040 -1.5%
Customer Service Representatives 58,925 $36,400 0.98 5,129 9.5%
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 58,756 $21,200 0.81 10,275 21.2%

Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages


Gulf Coast Regional Infrastructure

Housing Affordability

The Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI) from the Texas A&M Real Estate Center measures the ability of a household earning the median family income to purchase a median-priced home. An index ratio greater than 1 means that the median family income is more than the income required to purchase the median home in a specific area. The calculations for the index assume that consumers are making a down payment of 20 percent and have a family income that is 25 percent of the price of the median home.[1]

According to the THAI, a median-income family in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA would have more than one and a half times the income needed to afford the median home (Exhibit 12). Home prices in this area are slightly more affordable than in the state as a whole.

Exhibit 12
Texas Housing Affordability Index, Gulf Coast Region, 2019 and 2020
Locality20192020
State of Texas 1.43 1.78
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA 1.55 1.83

Source: Texas A&M Real Estate Center


U.S. Military Installation Impact

Texas has 14 U.S. military installations within its borders. In 2019, these bases directly employed more than 226,000 and supported nearly 634,000 jobs in all. They also contributed an estimated $75.3 billion annually to the state’s GDP (Exhibit 13). Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, the only military installation within the Gulf Coast region, supported an estimated 2,300 jobs in 2019 and contributed about $286 million to the state’s GDP. Learn more about the impact of U.S. military installations on the state’s economy.

Exhibit 13
U.S. Military Impact on Gulf Coast Region, Estimated 2019
Region Total Jobs Supported U.S. Military Contribution to State GDP (billions)
State of Texas 633,892 $75.3
Gulf Coast Region 2,323 $0.3

Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; Texas Military Preparedness Commission and REMI


Regional Transportation

Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are federally mandated policymaking organizations created to coordinate transportation planning in urbanized areas. The Houston-Galveston MPO operates transportation planning in the Gulf Coast region. Roadways within the region make up parts of the Bryan, Houston and Yoakum Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) districts.

Road miles and vehicle miles traveled for the region’s roadway network, as of 2019, are listed by road type (Exhibit 14).

Exhibit 14
Gulf Coast Region Road Miles and Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled, 2019
Road Type Centerline Miles Lane Miles Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled Daily Truck Miles Traveled
Certified County Roads 16,606.8 34,270.8 22,997,315.6 887,756.8
City Streets 13,179.4 29,297.5 33,648,257.3 1,377,110.6
Farm or Ranch to Market Roads and Spurs 2,479.3 5,672.3 16,416,007.3 859,787.1
Federal Roads 105.5 184.3 16,430.5 525.6
Frontage Roads 1,178.5 2,610.8 12,913,499.4 747,031.2
Interstate Highways 397.6 2,549.4 49,137,571.6 5,199,397.7
Pass, Park and Recreation Roads 20.0 40.0 6,211.6 455.8
State Highways, Spurs, Loops, Business Routes 1,336.9 4,574.7 26,209,970.9 2,213,864.0
Toll Road Authority Roads 128.9 710.8 8,246,798.0 679,519.8
U.S. Highways 311.7 1,174.0 9,616,492.3 1,035,422.0
Total 35,744.6 81,084.5 179,208,554.6 13,000,870.6

Source: Texas Department of Transportation


Transit authorities and transit districts are governmental entities or companies that coordinate public transit in an area. The Houston area, including Harris and Chambers counties, is served by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, while Conroe-The Woodlands, Texas City, Galveston and Lake Jackson-Angleton are served by urban transit districts of their own. Rural transit in the region is provided by Colorado Valley Transit, Fort Bend County Rural Transit District, Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission and Gulf Coast Transit District (Exhibit 15).

Exhibit 15
Gulf Coast Transit Districts, Revenue and Ridership Statistics, 2019
Transit District Type Total Operating Expense Total Revenue Unlinked Passenger Trips Passenger Trips Per Capita Operating Expense Per Trip
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County MTA $574,759,334 $867,951,928 90,026,912 18.21 $6.38
Conroe-The Woodlands Urban $7,318,338 $4,943,165 728,220 3.04 $10.05
Texas City LaMarque Urban $2,967,503 $785,841 162,430 1.53 $18.27
Galveston Urban $3,220,256 $1,590,220 410,083 7.49 $7.85
Lake Jackson-Angleton Urban $1,388,255 $301,715 76,578 1.02 $18.13
Colorado Valley Transit Rural $1,577,080 $440,688 99,491 0.75 $15.85
Fort Bend County Rural $8,015,133 $24,031,572 405,045 10.61 $19.79
Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission Rural $3,041,417 $1,412,974 163,619 1.01 $18.59
Gulf Coast Transit District Rural $568,015 $26,114 11,033 0.12 $51.48

Source: Texas Department of Transportation


The state of Texas has 27 commercial service airports offering passenger service. Two of those commercial service airports are in the Gulf Coast region (Exhibit 16).

Exhibit 16
Gulf Coast Region Commercial Airports and Enplanements, 2019 and 2020
Airport Name City U.S. Rank 2019 Enplanements 2020 Enplanements Percent Change
George Bush Intercontinental/Houston (IAH) Houston 12 21,905,309 8,682,558 -60.4%
William P Hobby (HOU) Houston 33 7,069,614 3,127,178 -55.8%

Source: Federal Aviation Administration


Amtrak interstate passenger rail service runs three routes through Texas (Texas Eagle, Heartland Flyer, Sunset Limited). Texans can get direct service to Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Oklahoma City plus numerous stops along the way as well as connections to the rest of the country.  Amtrak’s station stop in the Gulf Coast region is in the city of Houston.

Ports of entry within Texas account for 17 percent of all U.S. international trade, and each region contributes to international trade in direct and indirect ways. The Gulf Coast region has five direct trade official ports of entry (Exhibit 17).

Exhibit 17
Gulf Coast Region Official Ports of Entry Trade Data, 2020
Port of Entry Exports Imports
Sugar Land Regional Airport $1,284,476 $25,459
Port of Freeport $8,480,112,201 $2,606,428,728
Port of Galveston $2,109,168,375 $2,826,456,390
Houston Intercontinental Airport $6,474,984,675 $3,640,820,532
Port of Houston $74,035,305,167 $52,513,714,303
State of Texas Ports of Entry $311,223,000,000 $326,324,000,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online, Port Level Data for 2020


Region vs. Texas

If the Gulf Coast region were a state, it would be the 14th largest in terms of population and the fastest-growing (Exhibit 18). For more information on how Texas and its distinct, diverse regions compare to the U.S. and other states, visit TexIndex.

Exhibit 18
Gulf Coast Region Compared to the U.S.
Measure Gulf Coast Region Rank as a State Texas State Rank U.S.
Square Miles 13,926 42 268,597 2 3,531,905
Population, 2020 Census 7,297,022 14 29,145,505 2 331,449,281
Population Percent Change, 2010 to 2020 19.9% 1 15.9% 3 7.4%
Population over 25 with at Least a High School Diploma, 2019 83.7% 50 83.7% 49 88.0%
Population over 25 with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, 2019 32.5% 19 29.9% 28 32.1%
Per Capita Income, 2019 $58,413 15 $52,813 26 $56,490
Median Household Income, 2019 $68,140 16 $61,874 22 $62,843
Population Age 65 or Over, 2019 11.7% 50 12.9% 48 16.5%
Population Under Age 18, 2019 26.2% 2 25.5% 2 22.3%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis


Gulf Coast Economic Development Highlights

  • The Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land MSA is the fifth most populous MSA in the United States with an annual GDP of more than $509 million in 2019.[2]
  • The Gulf Coast region’s economy has the added benefit of being home to many professional sports teams including the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets and the Houston Dynamo FC. The Houston Astros have been particularly successful of late, appearing in numerous World Series Championships. During the 2019 World Series in which the Houston Astros hosted four games, Houston brought in between $6 million and $9 million per home game to the local economy.[3]
  • Hailiang Copper Texas Inc. is retrofitting a vacant plant into a copper tubing manufacturing facility in Austin County. The project, located within Sealy ISD, broke ground in 2019 and will invest nearly $157.8 million in the area.[4]
  • Celanese (located within La Porte ISD) plans to extend its acetic acid unit in Clear Lake. Acetic acid, or everyday vinegar, is widely used as a building block for many products, including paints, coatings, plastics, emulsions, foods, and pharmaceuticals. The new unit would expand capacity from 1.3 million tons of acetic acid per year to approximately 2.1 million tons per year by mid-2022, making the facility one of the largest in the world.[5]
  • Texas Solar Gulf I LLC, proposed a solar power electric generating facility within the Columbia-Brazoria ISD boundaries. The facility will have a capacity of 100 Megawatt and provide a proposed total investment of $90 million.[6]
  • The University of Houston (a public university founded in 1927) had a total economic impact on the region of $6.4 billion in 2019.[7]
  • NASA’s Johnson Space Center (established in 1961) is the number one destination in Texas for international visitors.[8] In 2018, it was estimated that NASA affected more than 47,000 jobs in the Gulf Coast region.[9] Its museum alone generates nearly $119 million in annual economic impact for the region.[10] For more information on how NASA contributes to the Texas economy, check out the NASA: Good for Texas Tour.

Endnotes

Links are correct at the time of publication. The Comptroller's office is not responsible for external websites.

  1. Texas Real Estate Research Center, Texas Housing Affordability Index and Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI)
  2. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, “Total Real Gross Domestic Product for Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX,” (Last visited March 22, 2022).
  3. KHOU-11, ‘Downtown businesses eager for World Series boost,” (Last visited March 22, 2022)
  4. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Chapter 313 School Value Limitation, “Sealy ISD No. 1327, Hailiang Cooper Texas, Inc.,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) 
  5. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Chapter 313 School Value Limitation, “La Porte ISD No. 1382, Celanese LTD,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) 
  6. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Chapter 313 School Value Limitation, “Columbia-Brazoria ISD No. 1429, TX Gulf Solar I, LLC,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) 
  7. University of Houston, “2019 Economic Impact Study,”
  8. Space Center Houston, “Space Center Houston Breaks All-Time Attendance Record,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) 
  9. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, “The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): A Texas Institution with a Large Economic Impact,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) 
  10. Space Center Houston, “Space Center Houston Breaks All-Time Attendance Record,” https://spacecenter.org/news-center/news-releases/space-center-houston-breaks-all-time-attendance-record/ (Last visited March 22, 2022).

Questions?

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