

Harris County, TX vs Orange County, CA
Orange County, CA comes out ahead of Harris County, TX on 25 of 30 statistics where one end is better, to 5. Orange County, CA leads on Health and Economics.
30 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 5
- Avg. percentile
- 36
- Categories led
- 0
- Wins
- 25
- Avg. percentile
- 55
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US counties.
| Statistic | Harris County, TX | Orange County, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,093,721 3rd of 3,094 | 3,140,987 6th of 3,094 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | $74,983 841st of 3,093 | $116,289 65th of 3,093 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | 16.3% 2,139th of 3,094 | 9.5% 675th of 3,094 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS) | 4.5% tied 2,071st of 3,094 | 4.1% tied 1,616th of 3,094 |
| Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 41.0% tied 2,505th of 3,094 | 36.0% tied 1,159th of 3,094 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | 29.0 2,480th of 3,094 | 26.7 2,116th of 3,094 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages) | 1,309 82nd of 3,050 | 1,396 96th of 3,050 |
| Median Air Quality IndexAir Quality by County (EPA) | 62 950th of 960 | 53 tied 926th of 960 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- HealthOrange County, CA · 11 statistics
- EconomicsOrange County, CA · 9 statistics
Biggest differences
The 22 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 1,547 US counties.
| Statistic | Harris County, TX | Orange County, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 21.5% tied 2,803rd of 2,916 | 9.2% tied 977th of 2,916 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | 16.3% 2,139th of 3,094 | 9.5% 675th of 3,094 |
| Adults with Diabetes (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 13.2% tied 2,399th of 2,916 | 10.1% tied 1,070th of 2,916 |
| Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 41.0% tied 2,505th of 3,094 | 36.0% tied 1,159th of 3,094 |
| Cooling Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages) | 3,089 2,973rd of 3,050 | 1,230 tied 1,690th of 3,050 |
| Adults with Obesity (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 37.1% tied 1,156th of 2,916 | 23.9% tied 33rd of 2,916 |
| Median IncomePoorest Counties | $74,983 841st of 2,000 | $116,289 65th of 2,000 |
| Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 26.9% tied 1,553rd of 2,916 | 23.4% tied 734th of 2,916 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | $74,983 841st of 3,093 | $116,289 65th of 3,093 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | $276,600 2,349th of 3,092 | $962,600 3,079th of 3,092 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS) | 4.5% tied 2,071st of 3,094 | 4.1% tied 1,616th of 3,094 |
| Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 21.8% tied 1,853rd of 2,916 | 19.9% tied 1,448th of 2,916 |
| Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 73.3% tied 2,015th of 2,916 | 71.7% tied 2,361st of 2,916 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | 29.0 2,480th of 3,094 | 26.7 2,116th of 3,094 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | 92.1% 433rd of 3,094 | 95.0% 70th of 3,094 |
| Adults Who Smoke (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 12.6% tied 373rd of 2,916 | 9.3% tied 41st of 2,916 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | 34.2% 498th of 3,094 | 44.1% 183rd of 3,094 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) | $1,401 tied 2,775th of 3,090 | $2,434 3,086th of 3,090 |
| Adults Who Binge Drink (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 16.8% tied 1,061st of 2,916 | 16.1% tied 776th of 2,916 |
| Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 16.4% tied 382nd of 2,916 | 16.6% tied 433rd of 2,916 |
| Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages) | 1,309 82nd of 3,050 | 1,396 96th of 3,050 |
| Adults with Depression (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) | 19.5% tied 239th of 2,916 | 19.4% tied 231st of 2,916 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Harris County, TX or Orange County, CA?
- Orange County, CA comes out ahead of Harris County, TX on 25 of 30 statistics where one end is better, to 5. Orange County, CA leads on Health and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Harris County, TX or Orange County, CA?
- Harris County, TX has a population of 5,093,721 (3rd of 3,094 US counties) and Orange County, CA has 3,140,987 (6th of 3,094).
- How do Harris County, TX and Orange County, CA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Harris County, TX $74,983 (841st of 3,093), Orange County, CA $116,289 (65th of 3,093) among US counties. Orange County, CA ranks better.
- How do Harris County, TX and Orange County, CA compare on Poverty Rate (%)?
- Poverty Rate (%): Harris County, TX 16.3% (2,139th of 3,094), Orange County, CA 9.5% (675th of 3,094) among US counties. Orange County, CA ranks better.
- Where does Harris County, TX beat Orange County, CA most clearly?
- Harris County, TX ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)): $276,600 vs $962,600; Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 73.3% vs 71.7%; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)): $1,401 vs $2,434.
- Where does Orange County, CA beat Harris County, TX most clearly?
- Orange County, CA ranks far ahead on Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 9.2% vs 21.5%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)): 9.5% vs 16.3%; Adults with Diabetes (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 10.1% vs 13.2%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Harris County, TX or Orange County, CA.
- Bexar County, TX vs Harris County, TX
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- Contra Costa County, CA vs Orange County, CA
- Cook County, IL vs Orange County, CA
- Dallas County, TX vs Orange County, CA
- Kings County, NY vs Orange County, CA
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- Maricopa County, AZ vs Orange County, CA
- Miami-Dade County, FL vs Orange County, CA
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