Houston-Area Fertility Falls Across Five Counties

Birth rates fell across Greater Houston’s five largest counties from 2003 to 2024, mirroring state and national declines as women increasingly have children later or not at all. Brazoria County had the steepest drop, at 32%, followed by Harris County at about 29%; in 2024, Montgomery had the highest total fertility rate at 1.9, while Fort Bend had the lowest at 1.5. Researchers point to the rising cost of raising a family, including housing, as a factor, and found fertility declined across racial and ethnic groups, though rates remained highest among Hispanic women. Lower birth rates could eventually mean fewer students and workers, but continued in-migration is helping Houston’s population grow and makes migration an increasingly important factor in regional forecasts.