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Rice University’s Kinder Institute of Urban Research has released its 2025 survey of the Houston area, and it includes some troubling signs for the future of the city. According to the survey, almost half of the city’s residents have considered moving away.
What’s even more troubling is why residents are considering leaving. According to the survey, one of the top concerns Houstonians have is the rising crime that has plagued the area for years.
Retired HPD Captain Dr. Greg Fremin says unfortunately, this news isn’t much of a surprise. He said, "Fear is a huge concern among people that are living in a community. They’re very concerned about their safety, their children’s safety, and quality of life issues."
Dr. Fremin also warned that if Houston does see a mass exodus of residents due to its crime problems, that could lead to the situation getting a lot worse very quickly. He explained, "It’s a vicious cycle because your tax base is eroded. Then you have fewer city services because they don’t have the funding mechanisms to provide for that."
He pointed to certain portions of the greater Houston area that have already fallen victim to this cycle, like Greenspoint and Sharpstown, saying, "Those were once beautiful areas that were populated by professionals back in the ’80s, and crime just took over. Unfortunately, the crime in that area now is some of the highest in the city."
He says rather than fleeing the city and dooming it to fall victim to this cycle, Houstonians who are concerned about rising crime should instead stay in the city and elect city leaders who will make public safety a priority.