high income earners

Pearland has highest rate of new wealthy residents in Houston

Nearly 22 percent of all Pearland households made $200,000 in 2023.

Photo courtesy of Visit Pearland

Where are the wealthy settling down in H-Town? The Houston neighbor of Pearland has added a larger percentage of high-income households recently than any other local city, and it ranks among the top 50 U.S. places with the biggest growth of high earners.

A new study by financial tech company SmartAsset, "Cities Adding the Most High-Income Households – 2025 Study" examined Census Bureau income data across 352 American cities. They were ranked based on the growth in high-earning households as a percentage of total households between 2022 and 2023. For the purpose of the study, high-income households are defined as those making $200,000 or more per year.

Pearland ranked No. 48 nationwide and No. 9 in Texas.

The study found 21.6 percent of all Pearland households made $200,000 or more in 2023, and added over 2,900 high-income earners during the one-year period. That means the city had an affluent household growth rate of 35.8 percent.

For context, the national median income for a U.S. household in 2023 was $80,610.

Pearland has previously cashed in as one of the richest Texas cities in 2023, and has been consistently lauded as one of the safest American cities. And with the new influx of wealth, Pearland residents can afford to spend the extra cash on small businesses and local restaurants, such as the popular Killen's Barbecue, BB's Tex-Orleans, and Lotus Seafood.

SmartAsset also mentioned that up-and-coming cities like Pearland can be greatly impacted by their wealthy households in many other ways.

"[The] prevalence of high-income households also can help describe the relative quality of life of a population, or tell stories about potential wealth gaps or local growth," the report said. "Changes in a city’s relative proportion of households earning high income may change due to dynamics in the local job market, housing market, cost of living, age demographics, opportunities elsewhere, and beyond."

Other high-earning cities in Texas
The Texas city that brought in the most high-earning households from 2022 to 2023 was the South Texas city of Brownsville, which also ranked No. 4 nationally.

Only two additional Houston-area cities appeared in the top 100: Atascocita (No. 82) and League City (No. 99). Atascocita added 1,623 affluent households from 2022 to 2023, while League City added 1,130 new wealthy residents.

Other Texas cities ranked among the top 100 with the most high-earning households include:

No. 15 – Edinburg
No. 24 – Lewisville
No. 25 – Round Rock
No. 29 – Abilene
No. 30 – Denton
No. 35 – New Braunfels
No. 41 – Killeen
No. 59 – Tyler
No. 61 – Amarillo
No. 63 – Carrollton
No. 77 – San Antonio
No. 97 – Richardson

reports smartasset suburbs houston pearland

CityCentre's Staycation Destination

Freshly-renovated Houston hotel shows off new rooms and restaurant

Courtesy of The Moran CityCentre

The Moran CityCentre has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation.

The Moran Hotel in Houston’s CityCentre is sporting a multi-million-dollar makeover courtesy of Midway, a real estate investment and development firm.

“Our visitors desired an elevated experience with expanded dining concepts and social spaces along with contemporary finishes and amenities,” Steven Terrebonne, Moran’s general manager, said in a statement. “We look forward to hosting business travelers, leisure seekers, and locals as they experience our reimagined property.”

This was the first overhaul of the property that opened in 2009 as the Hotel Sorella. It was renamed the Moran Hotel in 2019. Renovations, first announced last year, have added a new bar and restaurant to CityCentre’s offerings. The Allegory Bar is now open to the public and features traditional bar and lounge seating, along with an adjacent, covered terrace that overlooks the central plaza.

Patrons can take advantage of happy hour from 4-6 pm., Monday through Friday, or indulge in the Alamo elixir, a $200 experience for six people featuring Mijento Blanco tequila, Casamigos Mezcal, and a bottle of sparkling rose. Entrees such as a coffee-rubbed cowboy ribeye ($70) and Gulf Coast shrimp ($32), can be found on the menu, along with a brisket grilled cheese ($21) and a cast iron chocolate chip cookie ($15).

At Cafe Moran, breakfast is served daily, with brunch on Sundays. Diners will find two buffet options alongside standards like frittatas, avocado toast, and pastries.

“With the newly enhanced property we wanted to create a space that appealed to both travelers and visitors alike,” Bo Sanford of Midway said. “We are continuously creating a dynamic and curated environment of retail, office, and hotel offerings that strengthen CityCentre.”

The hotel’s 244 guestrooms have received updated furnishings and lighting, premium bedding, and upgraded technology. Patrons will discover special touches such as a bar cart stocked with Texas-based liquors, snacks, and Illy coffee service. Custom toiletries, robes, and handheld steamers add to the guest experience.

Guests can also enjoy the amenities of an outdoor pool and fitness center, including a cross-partnership with the neighboring Life Time Athletic Club, providing access to the gym and spa.

The transformation stretches to the hotel’s meeting spaces, such as the renamed Pecos Junior Ballroom. The space can accommodate up to 180 attendees, with a granite and marble-finished bar and catering kitchen. The ballroom’s floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the pool, which can also be reserved.

Courtesy of The Moran CityCentre

The Moran CityCentre has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation.