Houston Rankings
Your business will thrive in Houston!
And why shouldn’t it? Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, located in a culturally diverse metropolitan region of 5.6 million residents – and growing at more than twice the national pace.
How will your company and employees benefit? How about a low cost of living, a well trained and educated workforce and foreign consulates to help your company expand in or explore the world of international business? You’ll find these keys to business and more in Houston. Just take a look at these national rankings for a better idea of what Houston offers you.
Houston ranks # 1
Texas -- Foreign Direct Investment Destination
Source: The Perryman Group (as reported in the Houston Business Journal ) – April 18, 2008
Houston ranks # 1
Nominal Job Growth (March ‘07 to March ‘08)
Source: Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment: February 2008, U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics press release – April 2, 2008
Houston ranks # 1
Texas -- Wind Power Capacity
Source: American Wind Power Association (as reported in the Houston Business Journal )
– April 2, 2008
Houston ranks # 1
Fastest Job Growth (March ‘07 to March ‘08)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – April 2008
Houston ranks # 1
Texas -- Biotechnology Financial Incentives
Source: FierceBiotech – February 19, 2008
Houston ranks # 1
2007 Most Accessible City for the Disabled
Source: The National Organization on Disability –February 14, 2008
Houston ranks # 1
2007 Easiest City to Work With
Source: ConferenceDirect (as reported in the Houston Business Journal) – January 18,
2008
Houston ranks # 1
Texas -- Positve State Government Impact on Local Business Climate
Source: Expansion Management, 2007 Legislative Quotient – December 17, 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Lowest Cost of Living and Least Expensive Housing Among Major Metro Areas
Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index – Third Quarter 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Faculty Productivity Among U.S. Research Universities - Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of
Medicine
Source: Academic Analytics:U.S. Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index –November 16, 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Faculty Productivity Among U.S. Research Universities -Electrical Engineering, Rice
University
Source: Academic Analytics:Faculty Scholarly Productivity (FSP) Index –November 16, 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Faculty ProductivityAmong U.S. Research Universities - Computer Science, Rice University
Source: Academic Analytics:Faculty Scholarly Productivity (FSP) Index –November 16, 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Faculty ProductivityAmong U.S. Research Universities - Health, Physical Education,and Recreation,
University of Houston
Source: Academic Analytics:Faculty Scholarly Productivity (FSP) Index –November 16,
2007
Houston ranks # 1
Fastest Growing Companies
Source: Fortune – September 17, 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Best Hospitals for Cancer Care: M. D. Anderson
Source: U.S. News and World Report – July 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Top U.S. Manufacturing Cities
Source: Manufacturers’ News Inc. (as reported in the Houston Business Journal) – May 30,
2007
Houston ranks # 1
Top Small Airports in Customer Satisfaction – Hobby Airport
Source:J.D. Power and Associates (as reported in USA Today) – May 23, 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Largest Immigrant Communities in the United States
Source:Center for an Urban Future: A World of Opportunity – April 10, 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Number of Overall Building Permits
Source:Demographia – March 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Number of Single Unit Building Permits
Source: Demographia – March 2007
Houston ranks # 1
Dining out
Source: National Zagat Survey (as reported in the Houston Business Journal) – November 1, 2006
Houston ranks # 1
Most Pet-Friendly City for Travelers
Source: AAA as reported in the Houston Business Journal – September 26, 2006
Houston ranks # 2
Texas -- Total State Population
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – April 18, 2008
Houston ranks # 2
Energy-Efficient Construction Among Large U.S. Cities
Source: TXCN.com – April 4, 2008
Houston ranks # 2
Texas -- Nominal High-tech Job Growth
Source: Cyberstates 2008 (as reported in the Houston Business Journal ) – April 2,
2008
Houston ranks # 2
Fastest Growing U.S. Office Market
Source: Grubb & Ellis – First Quarter 2008
Houston ranks # 2
Local Government Green Power Purchasers
Source: EPA (as reported in the Houston Business Journal) – January 28, 2008
Houston ranks # 2
Leading Export Metros
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (as reported in the Houston Chronicle) – January 24,
2008
Houston ranks # 2
Texas -- Value of Foreign-Owned Assets
Source: Southwest Economy – November/December 2007
Houston ranks # 2
Fastest Growing World Metros for High Income Earners
Source: Demographia: 2008 International Affordable Housing Survey – Third Quarter 2007
Houston ranks # 2
Top 25 Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurs – University of Houston
Source: Entrepreneur.com (as reported in the Houston Business Journal) – October 10, 2007
Houston ranks # 2
Metro and Texas -- Gain in New Housing Units
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – September 17, 2007
Houston ranks # 2
Texas -- Top U.S. Manufacturing States
Source: Houston Strategies (as reported in the Houston Business Journal) – June 28, 2007
Houston ranks # 2
Texas -- Best Business Climate in the Nation
Source: Site Selection – March 2007
Houston ranks # 2
Best Logistics Metros
Source: Expansion Management – September, 2006
Houston ranks # 2
America 's Greatest Golf-Home Towns
Source: Golf Digest as reported in the Houston Business Journal – May 9, 2006
Houston ranks # 2
Campus Diversity: National Universities - University of Houston
Source: U.S. News & World Report – America's Best Colleges 2006
Houston ranks # 3
Number of Fortune 500 Headquarters
Source: Fortune – April 21, 2008
Houston ranks # 3
Texas -- Venture Capital Investment
Source: National Venture Capital Association – February 5, 2008
Houston ranks # 3
Number of Foreign Consulates (88)
Source: Houston International Protocol Alliance – February 2008
Houston ranks # 3
Texas -- Jobs Generated through Foreign Direct Investment
Source: Real Estate Center of Texas A&M University – March 27, 2008
Houston ranks # 3
Total County Population
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census – March 22, 2008
Houston ranks # 3
Faculty Productivity Among U.S. Research Universities - Structural Biology, Baylor College of
Medicine
Source: Academic Analytics:Faculty Scholarly Productivity (FSP) Index –November 16, 2007
Houston ranks # 3
Best Economic Performance Among the Top 25 Largest Cities
Source: Milken Institute – September, 2007
Houston ranks # 3
Green Space
Source: Trust for Public Land – July 2007
Houston ranks # 3
Top Ten Underrated U.S. Cities
Source: MSNBC.Com – April 10, 2007
Houston ranks # 3
Most Hispanic-Owned Businesses in the United States
Source: Center for an Urban Future: A World of
Opportunity – April 10, 2007
Houston ranks # 3
Youngest Median Age within Metro Areas
Source: 2006 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
Houston ranks # 3
Earning a Living - U.S. Metros
Source: 2006 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
Houston ranks # 3
Lowest Tax Burden
Source: Kiplinger’s Website – October 2006
Houston ranks # 3
Total Number of "Insourced" Jobs
Source: Organization for International Investment – September 2006
Houston ranks # 3
Retail Investment
Source: Weaver Davis & Jacob Realty Group as reported in Business Wire – August 29,
2006
Houston ranks # 3
Overall Financial Performance of Local Charities
Source: Charity Navigator – June 2006
Houston ranks # 3
U.S. Metros for Business and Careers
Source: Forbes – May 2006
Houston ranks # 3
Best Metros for Business
Source: Forbes – May 4, 2006
Houston ranks # 4
Highest Nominal Population Growth Metros
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census – March 27, 2008
Houston ranks # 4
Total City Population
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census – March 27, 2008
Houston ranks # 4
Top Destination for Private Jet Owners
Source: Houston Business Journal –March 18, 2008
Houston ranks # 4
Top Ten Up-and-Coming Tech Cities
Source: Forbes.com – March 10, 2008
Houston ranks # 4
Faculty ProductivityAmong U.S. Research Universities - Computer Engineering, Rice
University
Source: Academic Analytics:Faculty Scholarly Productivity (FSP) Index –November 16, 2007
Houston ranks # 4
U.S. Metro Logistics Quotient
Source: Expansion Management™ – October 2007
Houston ranks # 4
Total Land Devoted to Parks
Source: Trust for Public Land – July 2007
Houston ranks # 4
Top 25 Tastiest U.S. Cities
Source: Verizon Superpages.com – August 2006
Houston ranks # 5
Faculty ProductivityAmong U.S. Research Universities – Developmental Biology, Baylor College of
Medicine
Source: Academic Analytics:Faculty Scholarly Productivity (FSP) Index – November 16, 2007
Houston ranks # 5
Faculty ProductivityAmong U.S. Research Universities - Agricultural and Biomedical Engineering, Rice
University
Source: Academic Analytics:Faculty Scholarly Productivity (FSP) Index –November 16, 2007
Houston ranks # 5
Top Cities for African Americans
Source: BlackEnterprise.com – September 17, 2007
Houston ranks # 5
Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges – Rice University
Source: The Princeton Review – America's Best Value Colleges 2007 Edition
Houston ranks # 5
Best Cities for Relocating Singles
Source: Worldwide ERC® & Primacy Relocation – October 1, 2006
Houston ranks # 5
Best Business Opportunity Metro
Source: Expansion Management – August 2006
Houston ranks # 6
Global WiFi Usage
Source: Houston Business Journal – March 25, 2008
Houston ranks # 6
Total Metropolitan Area Population
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census – March 20, 2008
Houston ranks # 6
America’s Top Restaurant Cities
Source: ForbesTraveler.com – April 19, 2007
Houston ranks # 6
Most Asian-Owned Businesses in the United States
Source: Center for an Urban Future: A World of Opportunity – April 10, 2007
Houston ranks # 6
Population Growth by Percent, 2000 - 2005
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census – December 18, 2006
Houston ranks # 6
Net Migration, 2000-2005
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census – December 18, 2006
Houston ranks # 6
Housing Units by Percent Change, 2000 - 2004
Source: 2006 County and City Extra, 14th Edition
Houston ranks # 6
Best Values: National Universities - Rice University
Source: U.S. News & World Report – America's Best Colleges 2006
Houston ranks # 7
Best Cities for Jobs in 2008
Source: Forbes.com – January 10, 2008
Houston ranks # 7
Real GDP by Metropolitan Area 2001-2005
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis – September 2007
Houston ranks # 7
Most Diverse U.S. Cities
Source: Brookings Institute – March 2006
Houston ranks # 7
2006 Top 10 Metros for New and Expanded Facilities
Source: Site Selection – March 2007
Houston ranks # 8
Top Ten Cities for Recent College Graduates
Source: Apartment.com and CBCampus.com (as reported by Biz.yahoo.com) – April 29, 2008
Houston ranks # 8
Affordable Housing Among Large Metros
Source: Houston Business Journal – March 28, 2008
Houston ranks # 8
Purchasing Power
Source: American Community Survey, U.S. Bureau of the Census – December 18, 2006
Houston ranks # 8
Homeland Security Funding
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security – December 18, 2006
Houston ranks # 8
Largest Central Business Districts
Source: Demographia – June 2006
Houston ranks # 9
Concentration of Nanotechnology Companies
Source: Woodrow Wilson Institute: Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies – March 28, 2008
Houston ranks # 9
Growth in Service Sector Employment
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis – December 18, 2006
Houston ranks # 9
Growth in Business Establishments
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau – December 18, 2006
Houston ranks # 9
Off-the-Radar Tech Hub
Source: eWEEK – June 28, 2006
Houston ranks # 9
Well-Mannered U.S. Cities
Source: Marjabelle Young Stewart – June 2006
Houston ranks # 10
Real Estate Investing
Source: HomeVestors of America Inc. (as reported in the Houston Business Journal) –
December 8, 2006
Houston ranks # 10
Value of Major League Baseball Franchise
Source: Forbes.com as reported in the Houston Business Journal – April 28, 2006
Houston ranks # Other
Largest Economies in the World -- Texas ranks #11
Source: The Perryman Group (as reported in the Houston Business Journal ) – April 18,
2008
Houston ranks # Other
5 Star Logistics Friendly Metro
Source: Expansion Management Magazine – October 2007
Houston ranks # Other
Top 50 Big Cities for Family Relocation
Source: Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocations LLC – April 2007
Houston ranks # Other
Top Ten Cities for Green Technology Innovation
Source: SustainLane – March 2007
Houston ranks # Other
Houston , Sugar Land among '100 Best Communities for Young People
Source: The Alliance for Youth – January 2007
Houston ranks # Other
5 Star Business Opportunity Metro
Source: Expansion Management Magazine – August 8, 2006
Houston ranks # Other
Top 10 Specialty Hospitals Cancer Centers, Rehabilitation, Heart and Heart Surgery, Neurology and
Neurosurgery, Pediatrics and Psychiatry
Source: U.S. News and World Report – July 2006
Houston ranks # Other
Commute to Work for Major Cities-Houston Ranks #19
Source: SustainLane – June 2006
Houston ranks # Other
Greater Houston Partnership – Top 10 Economic Development Organization in North America
for 2005
Source: Site Selection – May 2006
