HOUSTON AREA SURVEY--2010:

Perspectives on a City in Transition,

From 29 Years of Houston Surveys
STEPHEN L. KLINEBERG
The GHP-IUR Luncheon and Release of the Findings
21 April 2010

FIGURE 1: POSITIVE RATINGS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HOUSTON AREA (1982-2010)

90
85
80

Percent rating job opportunities

in the Houston area as either
"excellent" or "good."

76

Percent Giving Positive Ratings

75

73

72

70
67

65

67

60

60
53

55
52

50

46
47

45

45

40
41

49
50

41

38

39

35

40
38

31

30
25

52

48
40

57

27

29
27

20

18

15
10
5

11

0
82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 OO O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 O9 10

Year of Survey

FIGURE 2: NEGATIVE RATINGS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN RELATION TO THE OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (1982-2010)
105

11

100

10.5
9.8

90

9.6

87

85

Percent Giving Negative Ratings

Percent rating "job opportunities" in the Houston

area as only "fair" or "poor," in comparison with
the official unemployment rates in Harris County.

9.5

80

80

75

70
71

70

8.5

65

7.8

7.8

60

56

54

50

52

52

45

56

7.1

49

7.0

48

6.8

43

46

42
6.3
6.0

30

5.7

25

(Official Unemployment rates

in Harris County)

23

5.2

20

5.2

30

30
25

5.6

5.9

6.5

42

6.4

35

6.0

6.3

36

5.9

38

6
5.5

23

4.8

4.5

4.5

4.7

10

4.4

4.3

4.1

4.1

56

7.5

(Negative ratings of
job opportunities)

6.7

40

59

58

58

55
50

8.5

65

8.3

65

15

10

3.5
82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

Year of Survey

98

99

OO

O1

O2

O3

O4

O5

O6

O7

O8

O9

10

Official Unemployment Rates

10.1

95

FIGURE 3: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

IN THE HOUSTON AREA TODAY? (1982-2010)
85
80
75

73

72

Traffic

Economy

Crime

70
65
65

Percent of Respondents

(Economy.)

60

60

60

59
(Crime.)

54

55
51

48

50
43

45
40

49

42

41

44

45
40

37

(Traffic.)

37

35

39

35

34

34

38
36

35

33
33

30

28
26

26

31

27

25
20

22

24

23
20

17

19

13

10

14

12

11
14

12

12
10

26

24 24

18

20
18

15
13

11

10

25

24
21

13

15

25

22

21

20

19

31

31

11

13

12

10

11

O3

O4

15 15

13
10

0
82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

Year of Survey

99

OO

O1

O2

O5

O6

O7

O8

O9

10

FIGURE 4: PERCENT DOING BETTER FINANCIALLY IN LAST FEW YEARS AND EXPECTING
TO DO BETTER IN NEXT FEW YEARS (1982-2010)
85
80

Personal financial situation has been "getting better" during the last few years.

75

Think that will be "better off" financially three or four years down the road.

Percent Saying, "Better."

70
65

66
63

65

63
60

60
55
50

58

59

58

60
58

(Next few years.)

62

53

58

60

59

60

60

57

53

52

49

(r=-.026, p.=.001)

49

47

44

42

41
38

40

48

48

47
43

58

56

51

45

35

64
62

62

37
33

(Last few years.)

45

40

42
41

40

37

35

37

32
35

34

30

32

31

31

31

32

(r=-.005, n.s.)

25
20
20

15
10

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

Year of Survey

99 OO O1

O2 O3

O4 O5

O6 O7 O8

O9

10

FIGURE 5: TWO MEASURES OF BELIEF IN

THE AMERICAN WORK ETHIC (1982-2010)
95
90

88

"If you work hard in this city,

eventually you will succeed."

85

83

78

78
77
75

Percent "Agreeing."

82

81

81

80

87
85

80

80

78
76

76 75

(r=+.083, p.=.000)

76
73

75
70

67
64

65

62
61

60

60

60

58

57

60

57

58

59

(r=+.087, p.=.000)
55
55

50

52

51
48

45

"People who work hard and live by the rules

are not getting a fair break these days."

49

46

40
35

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

Year of Survey

98

99 OO O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 O9

10

FIGURE 6: RATINGS OF THE HOUSTON AREA

IN GENERAL AS A PLACE TO LIVE (1996-2010)
105
100
95
90

"How w ould you rate the Houston

area in general as a place to live?"

Excellent/Good

Fair/Poor

81.7

Percent of Respondents

85
80

75.4
72.1

75
70
65

(r=+.079, p.=.000)

71.4

71.4

66.5

60
55
50
45
40
35

32.8
27.2

30

27.7

27.5
23.5

25
20

17.7

15
10
5
0

1996

2001

2004

2006

Year of Survey

2008

2010

FIGURE 7: CHANGING PERSPECTIVES ON THE

AMERICAN ECONOMY (1994-2010)
100
95

Agree: There are enough good jobs for all welfare recipients who really want to work.

90

Best way to reduce crime is to spend the money on poverty and schools (rather than more prisons).
Believe own overall standard of living is or will be higher than parents' standard of living.

Percent of Respondents

85

79

80
(r=+.182, p.=.000)

75

72

70

66

(Own living standards will be higher than parents'.)

65

65
(r=+.034, p.=.028)

61

60
60
57
55

(Spend the money on poverty, schools; not prisons.)

57

56

50
50
45

(Enough good jobs for all on welfare who want to work.)

(r=-.158, p.=.000)

40

43

35
30
25

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year of Survey

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

FIGURE 8: SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT

INITIATIVES (FROM 1992 THROUGH 2010)
100
95

A "very serious problem" for U.S. if gap between rich and poor gets significantly bigger. (r=+.029, n.s.)

90

Government should take action to reduce income differences in America. (r=-.077, p=.000)
Favor: Federal health insurance to cover the medical expenses of all Americans. (r=-.026, p.=.057)

85

Percent of Respondents

Favor: Requiring utlities to reduce their CO2 emissions, even if electricity rates will rise. (r=-.113, p.=.000)

80
75
76

70

71

(Federal health insurance.)

65

74
71

67

66

67

64
63

60

(Rich-poor gap serious.)

60

52

(Reduce CO2 emissions.)

55
52

(Reduce income differences.)

50

54

50

49

45
44

48

44

40

39

35
30
25
1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Year of Survey

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

FIGURE 9: ATTITUDES TOWARD LAND-USE

PLANNING AND URBAN LIFESTYLES (2009-2010)
100
95
90

Percent of Respondents

85

(Redevelop
older areas.)

(Favor.)

80

(Better landuse planning.)

75

72.9

79.9

65

(Big home,
yard, need
to drive.)

60

56.8

70

(Improve rail
and buses.)

(Smaller, more
urban, walking
distance.)

55
50
45

82.7

51.7

(Expand
existing
highways.)
41.5

40.7

40
(Free to
build
wherever.)

35
30
25
20
15
10
5

(Build on
edge of
suburbs.)

21.3

(Oppose.)

14.1

(DK)
6.0

(DK)
(DK)

6.8

(DK)
5.7

10.6 (DK)
6.7

2.5

0
Which is the best way for If you could choose where Which would be the better Better land-use planning
Harris County to
to live in the Houston
way to spend taxpayer
to guide growth; or
accommodate growth
area, which would you
transportation money?
people should be free to
during the next 20 years?
prefer? (2010)
(2010)
build wherever they
(2010)
want? (2010)

Would you favor or

oppose creating a
General Plan to guide
Houston's future growth?
(2009)

FIGURE 10: THE INTEREST AMONG ANGLOS

IN MOVING FROM SUBURBS TO CITY AND
FROM CITY TO SUBURBS (1999-2010)
Percent Saying, "Very" or "Somewhat Interested."

65
(If lives in suburbs:) "Very" or "somewhat interested" in someday moving to the city.

60

(If lives in city:) "Very" or "somewhat interested" in someday moving to the suburbs.
55
50
45

Anglo respondents only.

46

40

(Move to suburbs.)

41

43

38

38
36

(r=-.100, p.=.000)

35
31

30
28

31

27

25
(Move to city.)

31

25

29
27

25
20

22

(r=-.010, n.s.)

25
23

23

20
15
10
5
1999

2000

2003

2004

2005

2006

Year of Survey

2007

2008

2009

2010

FIGURE 11: ON PENSION FUNDS, TERM LIMITS,

DRUG POLICIES, AND LOCAL FOOD (HAS-2010)
85
80
(Agree.)

75

69

70

(two
4-year
terms.)

Percent of Respondents

65
60

56

55
50
45

(Raise
taxes.)

(Very
impt.)

(Cut
benefits.)

43

42
40

41

(three
3-year
terms.)

40
35

(Disagree.)
29

30

26

25
20

(Somewhat
important.)

(DK)
(DK)

(DK)

17

16

17

15
(DK)

10

5
0
How to deal with retirement
benefits promised to city
workers?

How best to change term limits

placed on city-of-Houston
officials?

Individuals with small amounts of

illegal drugs should be fined, not
jailed.

How important is it to you to be

able to buy locally grown food?

FIGURE 12: THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF HARRIS COUNTY (1960-2008)

4.5
4.0

6.7%

Anglos

Blacks

Hispanics

Asians/Others
6.7%

Population, in Millions

3.5
3.0

39.3%

4.1%
32.9%

2.1%

2.5

22.7%
15.5%

2.0

0.8%
9.9%

1.5
6.0%
19.8%

62.7%

0.5

19.1%

18.2%

54.0%

42.1%

17.9%

20.1%

0.3%

1.0

19.7%

73.9%

36.0%

69.2%

0.0

1960
(1,243,258)

1970
(1,741,912)

1980
(2,409,547)

1990
(2,818,199)

2000
(3,400,578)

2008, est.*
(3,984,349)

Source: U.S. Census (www.census.gov); classifications based on Texas State Data Center conventions;
total populations are given in parentheses; *from the 2008 Official Population Estimates.

FIGURE 13: THE PROPORTIONS IN FOUR AGE

GROUPS WHO ARE ANGLO, BLACK, LATINO,
AND ASIAN OR OTHER (2006-2010, COMBINED)
85
80
Anglos

Blacks

Hispanics

Asians/Others

75
70

67.3

65
60.0

Percent of Respondents

60
55
50
45.1
45

41.5

40
35
28.4

30
24.6

25
20

19.2

23.6 22.7

19.1
16.0

15

11.2
8.6

10
4.9
5

5.5

2.3

Ages 60-93 (N=941)

Ages 45-59 (N=1,092)

Ages 30-44 (N=785)

Ages 18-29 (N=556)

FIGURE 14: ATTITUDES TOWARD ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANTS IN HOUSTON (2006-2010)
95
Favor: Granting illegal immigrants path to citizenship, if speak English and no criminal record. [r=-.059, p.=.002]

90

Favor: A law that would deny health and welfare services to illegal immigrants in Texas. [r=+.024, n.s.]

85

Very serious: Problem of so many undocumented immigrants coming here in recent years. [r=+.103, p.=.000]

80
Favor: Building a 2,000-mile fence, if cost not a factor, to stop all undocumented immigration. [r=+.077, p.=.000]

Percent of Respondents

75
70

68

65

(Path to citizenship.)

61

61

62

60
56

59

55
(Build a fence.)
50

55

52

50
50

45
43

40

44

48

(Deny public services.)

(Very serious problem.)

35
30
25
2006

2007

2008

Year of Survey

2009

2010

FIGURE 15: CHANGING ASSESSMENTS OF

HOUSTONS ETHNIC DIVERSITY (19942010)
95
90

The increasing diversity will become a source of great strength (not a growing problem) for the city.

85

The increasing ethnic diversity, due to immigration, is a good thing (rather than a bad thing).

Percent of Respondents

80

The increasing immigration mostly strengthens (rather than threatens) American culture.

75
69

70

69

63

65

64

(A good thing.)

55

64
62
60

59
57

69

65
66

60

(r=+.082, p.=.000)

67

(Source of strength.)

61
(r=+.020, n.s.)

57

54

55

50

52

(r=+.039, p.=.021)

49

45
44

(Strengthens American culture.)

40
39

35
30
25
20
1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year of Survey

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

FIGURE 16: SUPPORT FOR GAY RIGHTS

(FROM 1991 THROUGH 2010)
100
95
Favor: Allowing homosexuals to teach in the public schools. [r=+.094, p.=.000]

90

Favor: Homosexuals being legally permitted to adopt children. [r=+.215,p.=.000]

85

Favor: Alowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. [r=+.185, p.=000]

80

Agree: Give homosexual marriages same legal status as heterosexual marriages. [r=+.050, p.=.000]

73

Percent of Respondents

75
70

66

65

60

60

(Gays teaching.)

59

56

55

52

(Gays in military.)
52

50

48

43

45

41

41
37

40
34

35

38
36

43

(Gay marriage.)
37

30
30

32
29

25

27

26

(Gay adoptions.)

20
15

64

19

10
5
0
1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Year of Survey

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

A SUMMARY OF THIS YEARS FINDINGS:

When asked how things were going for them, only 20% said
their financial situation was getting better -- the lowest number
ever recorded in all of the 29 years of Houston surveys.

These financial concerns are influencing area residents

attitudes toward jobs, immigration, and the role of government,
but they have not dampened enthusiasm for Houston as a
place to live nor for its efforts to provide more urban lifestyles.

Harris County residents appear to be increasingly comfortable

with the demographic transformations of the region. Growing
percentages believe that Houstons burgeoning diversity will
be a source of great strength for the city, and their support for
gay rights continues to grow across all questions and years.

CONTACT INFORMATION
The Institute for Urban Research at Rice University
Professor Stephen L. Klineberg, Co-Director
713-348-3484 or slk@rice.edu

Contact Rice University (at: has@rice.edu; or call

713-348-4225) for copies of the following publications:
* the report on the first 24 years of Houston surveys
(Public Perceptions in Remarkable Times, 2005)
* the report on survey findings in the six major sectors of
the greater Houston area (Regional Perspectives, 2007)
For further information, or to download additional reports
and PowerPoint slides, please visit the Institutes websites,
at: www.houstonareasurvey.org or www.iur.rice.edu