South Houston, TX Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in South Houston, TX

Is South Houston safe?

South Houston earns an overall crime grade of B-, which places it in a moderately safe range compared to other Texas cities of similar size. With a population of roughly 17,522 spread across 2,220 residents per square mile, the city has a density that can concentrate certain types of crime in specific pockets. Property crimes — particularly vehicle theft and burglary — account for the majority of incidents, while violent crime rates remain comparatively lower. Residents generally report feeling comfortable in well-lit, higher-traffic areas, though standard urban precautions apply after dark. The B- grade reflects real progress in community policing alongside ongoing challenges tied to a 21.6% poverty rate and 6.8% unemployment.

What is the crime rate in South Houston?

South Houston's overall crime profile earns a B- letter grade for 2026. Property crime is the dominant category, consistent with national patterns in cities where median household income ($45,038) and median home values ($110,767) sit below state averages — economic pressures that research consistently links to higher rates of theft and burglary. Violent crime in South Houston is present but does not drive the overall grade downward as sharply; assaults and robberies are reported but at levels typical for a Texas city of this population. The poverty rate of 21.6% is a meaningful contextual factor: neighborhoods with higher concentrations of economic hardship tend to see elevated incident counts, while areas with stronger commercial activity and community infrastructure trend closer to a B or B+ profile.

What are the safest areas in South Houston?

South Houston is a compact city, but crime is not distributed evenly. Areas with stronger owner-occupied housing stock and proximity to active community centers and schools tend to record fewer incidents per capita. Neighborhoods closer to the city's residential core, where median rents of $996 per month reflect stable, long-term tenancy, generally see lower property crime rates than transitional zones near industrial corridors. Because the city spans a relatively small footprint at 2,220 people per square mile, even a short distance can shift the local safety picture noticeably. Consulting the interactive crime map on this page — filterable by crime type and date range — gives the most granular, up-to-date neighborhood-level breakdown available.

What types of crime are most common in South Houston?

Property crimes dominate South Houston's incident reports, consistent with the city's B- overall grade. Theft (including vehicle theft and shoplifting), burglary of residences and vehicles, and vandalism collectively represent the largest share of reported offenses. This pattern aligns with the city's economic profile: a median household income of $45,038, a poverty rate of 21.6%, and an unemployment rate of 6.8% create conditions where opportunistic property crimes are statistically more likely. Violent crimes — including aggravated assault and robbery — are reported but at a lower frequency relative to property offenses. Drug-related incidents also appear in the data and are often correlated with both property and violent crime clusters in specific blocks.

Is South Houston a good place to live in 2026?

For many households, South Houston offers a genuinely competitive value proposition. A median home value of $110,767 and median rent of $996/month make it one of the more affordable entry points into the greater Houston metro area. The trade-off is a B- crime grade and a poverty rate of 21.6%, which prospective residents should weigh honestly. The city's 17,522 residents benefit from proximity to Houston's employment base, which helps offset a local unemployment rate of 6.8%. Families prioritizing affordability who are willing to research specific blocks using the crime map — and who plan to engage with neighborhood watch programs — often find South Houston workable and even welcoming. Those with flexibility on budget may want to compare adjacent communities, but the B- grade signals a city that is far from the worst-case scenario and shows measurable room for continued improvement.

How can I use the South Houston crime map effectively?

The crime map on this page lets you filter incidents by category (property crime, violent crime, drug offenses, etc.) and by time period, so you can spot whether a spike in a particular area is a short-term anomaly or a sustained trend. Given that South Houston's overall grade is B-, it is worth zooming into the specific blocks around your home, workplace, or a property you are considering — a B- city average can mask both safer A-range pockets and lower-graded hotspots. Pay particular attention to vehicle theft and burglary filters, since those are the highest-volume categories locally. Cross-referencing the map with the city's poverty rate concentration (21.6% citywide) can also help you contextualize why certain corridors see more activity than others.