Overview
Third Ward is one of Houston's oldest historically Black neighborhoods, and Census data tells a story of both resilience and economic pressure. Median household income in ZIP 77004 is significantly below the Houston metro average. Renter households make up the majority of residents. Yet Third Ward has also seen rising housing costs as investment flows into the area. This data story examines what the American Community Survey says about who lives in Third Ward, what they earn, and how that has changed since 2015.
Why it matters
Neighborhoods change. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. The decisions that shape yours are made in rooms you can enter, by people you can call. Knowing what's happening where you live — and who's doing what — is how residents become neighbors who actually change things.
“Census data portrait of Third Ward: income, housing costs, and who lives there now.”
Who this is for
You want to know what's happening in your area
Get context on local projects, decisions, and developments affecting where you live.
You're new to the neighborhood
Find organizations, spaces, and resources that connect you to the community around you.
You want to have a say
Understand the local processes and meetings where neighborhood decisions actually get made.
What the data shows in Third Ward
Go deeper
According to the American Community Survey, ZIP 77004 has a median household income of approximately $42,000, compared to the Houston metro median of $65,000. About 65 percent of households are renter-occupied, compared to 56 percent citywide. The poverty rate is approximately 27 percent, nearly double the city average. The neighborhood has seen significant new construction since 2015, with median rents rising faster than household incomes. Third Ward is home to Texas Southern University and the Emancipation Park cultural district.