Accessing Opportunity: Employment and Community Patterns among Low-, Medium-, and High-Wage Workers in Houston

This study examines commuting patterns in Houston and finds a mismatch in spatial and economic burdens for some specific Houston neighborhoods. Specifically, the report investigates commuting patterns between home and job tracts among low-, medium- and high-wage earners in Harris County. Key findings include that individuals making a higher wage live closer to their jobs than those making lower wages and the higher-earning workers have more public transportation options than those making less. The purpose of the work presented here is to document differences in commuting patterns among different income groups and to inform the development of programs designed to enhance the physical and economic mobility of Houston’s labor force.