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Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4
Exhibit 5
Exhibit 6
Exhibit 7
Exhibit 8
Exhibit 9
Exhibit 10
Exhibit 11
Exhibit 12
Exhibit 13
Exhibit 14
Exhibit 15
Exhibit 16
Exhibit 17
Exhibit 18
The Gulf Coast Region2022 Regional Report
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.
| 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).
| 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).
| 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).
| 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.
| 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.)
| 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).
| 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).
| 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).
| 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).
| 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).
| 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.
| Locality | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
| 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).
| 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).
| 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).
| 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).
| 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.
| 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.
- Texas Real Estate Research Center, Texas Housing Affordability Index and Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI). ↳
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, “Total Real Gross Domestic Product for Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX,” (Last visited March 22, 2022). ↳
- KHOU-11, ‘Downtown businesses eager for World Series boost,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) ↳
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Chapter 313 School Value Limitation, “Sealy ISD No. 1327, Hailiang Cooper Texas, Inc.,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) ↳
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Chapter 313 School Value Limitation, “La Porte ISD No. 1382, Celanese LTD,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) ↳
- 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) ↳
- University of Houston, “2019 Economic Impact Study,” ↳
- Space Center Houston, “Space Center Houston Breaks All-Time Attendance Record,” (Last visited March 22, 2022) ↳
- 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) ↳
- 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). ↳
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