2 census tracts · pop 13,644 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 3.4/10
· range 2.4–5.3
Downtown is a hispanic-black neighborhood in Houston with 2 census tracts and a population of 13,644 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 3.4/10 (Lower tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 17% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 8% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,574/month sits 16% higher than the Houston citywide average ($1,361).
Risk score
3.4
Lower
2 tracts · population-weighted
Downtown vs HoustonHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority87%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport44%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab
Court-record eviction history in Downtown
Aggregated across 1 validated constituent tract. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.
Historic baseline (2000–2018)
263Total filings (sum)
3.75%Avg annual filing rate
4.8%Peak year (2010)
4.40%Latest filed (2015)
Pandemic-era tracking (2020–2021)
1,233Total filings 2020-21
6.8Avg monthly observed
1.5Pre-pandemic baseline
8.59×Ratio to baseline
Pandemic filings ran above baseline. Tracked under Eviction Lab Eviction Tracking System (Houston, TX).
Frequently asked
About Downtown
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for Downtown?
Downtown scores 3.4/10 (Lower tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does Downtown compare to Houston overall?
Downtown scores 0.6 points higher than Houston overall (2.8/10). Renters spend 17% of income on rent vs 32% citywide. Average rent: $1,574 vs $1,361.
Q3
What is the average rent in Downtown?
Average gross rent in Downtown is $1,574/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 17% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of Downtown residents are renters?
69% of Downtown households are renter-occupied (vs 58% in Houston). The neighborhood has 13,644 residents.
Q5
Is Downtown a high social-vulnerability area?
Downtown sits in the 35th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (less vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
Which tracts in Downtown have the highest eviction risk?
The highest-risk constituent tract in Downtown is census tract 48201212300 (score 5.3/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 2.4 to 5.3, a spread of 2.9 points.
Q7
How safe is Downtown for landlords?
Downtown carries a lower-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (3.4/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Houston as a whole (2.8/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.
Q8
What is the demographic breakdown of Downtown?
Downtown has 14,466 residents (Hispanic-Black Neighborhood). Top groups: Hispanic / Latino (43.6%), Black (non-Hispanic) (35.3%), White (non-Hispanic) (17.7%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
