HOUSTON – Despite the many complaints on social media, traffic is not the biggest problem for Harris County residents.
According to data published by Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Harris County, Fort Bend County and Montgomery County voted crime and safety as a top three problem, beating categories like traffic and economy.
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The survey, titled “Top 5 Most Commonly Identified ‘Biggest Problems’ Facing the Houston Area, By County,” identified crime and safety, economy, cost of housing, traffic, and infrastructure as major issues.
Out of the five problems listed, 24% of Harris County, which boasted more than 5 million residents in 2024 (per the U.S. Census Bureau), felt that crime and safety was the biggest problem.
Traffic landed at No. 4 on the list, with only 14% voting it as a big problem in the area.
Montgomery County, the second largest county in the Houston area, rated traffic as the biggest problem; however, 19% responded with crime and safety, making it second on the list.
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Fort Bend County shared the same sentiments as Montgomery County. Traffic ranked at number one with 24%, while crime and safety fell right behind it at 22%.
The Kinder Institute said that, while crime in Harris County has dropped by 3%, there’s been an increase in assault and larceny, the most common crimes in the county.
Montgomery County and Fort Bend County also saw a rise in simple and aggravated assault cases and larceny.