gen z news

Houston ranks as top-10 hotspot for Gen Zers to live in 2025

Houston is a hotspot for Gen Zers.

Houston is proving itself to be a highly desirable place to live for Gen Z individuals, so says a new survey by online platform CommercialCafe.

The report, "Best Cities for Gen Z in 2025 & Beyond: Which Areas Are Most Livable for Young People?" analyzed nine metrics across the largest U.S. cities with populations of more than 400,00 residents. The key indicators consisted of a cost of living index, the share of the employed population working in jobs requiring a college degree, the percentage of the population aged 20-24, the diversity of recreational activities, among others.

Houston was chosen as the 9th best city for Gen Zers nationwide, and the 5th best city in the South. Minneapolis, Minnesota topped the list as the No. 1 best city for Gen Z.

CommercialCafe says Houston is the largest city in the top 10 with a population of nearly 2.4 million residents. About 7.6 percent of the city's population is between 20 and 24-years-old, which comes out to about 175,000 residents. Though the study focuses on Gen Zers in their early twenties, the youngest Zoomers are 13-years-old (born in 2012) and up to 28-years-old (born in 1997).

"As the only true 'big city' on the list, Space City provides several advantages compared to smaller university towns or innovation hubs higher on the list, including a large number of recreational establishments and third places like restaurants, bars, stadiums or museums," the report said.

Houston has the second-highest number of recreational establishments nationwide, and it's the 10th most affordable city on the list, according to the report's findings.

Gen Zers have been flocking to Houston for the last several years, and the city had the third-highest inflow of Gen Zers nationally in 2023. CommercialCafe classifies Gen Z as a "potential asset for companies and communities" due to their tech-savviness and community-minded personalities.

"While they may have inherited the title of 'most-criticized generation' from Millennials, Gen Zers are proving themselves to be financially astute, community-oriented and cost-conscious," the report said. "Moreover, their digital-native upbringing makes them uniquely positioned to leverage emerging technologies — particularly artificial intelligence — with unprecedented skill."

Elsewhere in Texas, Austin ranked as the 8th best U.S. city for Gen Z to live, followed by San Antonio (No. 11), Fort Worth (No. 20), El Paso (No. 26), and Dallas (No. 27).

The top 10 best cities for Gen Zers in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
No. 2 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 3 – Boston, Massachusetts
No. 4 – Tampa, Florida
No. 5 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 6 – Omaha, Nebraska
No. 7 – Columbus, Ohio
No. 8 – Austin, Texas
No. 9 – Houston, Texas
No. 10 – Kansas City, Missouri

houston gen z city life reports

a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

rodeohouston houston livestock show and rodeo