The Clear Lake/Bay Area's two traditional industry clusters, aerospace and specialty chemical have been joined in recent years by growing health care, maritime and tourism sectors. Health care has been buoyed by the population growth in the area and the arrival of new facilities to provide for residents. Maritime growth in the area abutting Galveston Bay is largely attributable to the dominance of the region's port infrastructure. The waterfront along with popular recreation centers like the Kemah Boardwalk and of course Space Center Houston have propelled growth on the tourism/hospitality front. 

The area located about 20 miles southeast of Downtown also boasts the nation’s third largest concentration of recreational boating centers as well as an array of amateur sports, outdoor activities, beaches and parks.

Workforce within 5 miles: 79,700
Median area home value: $234,900
Median household income: $73,900
County: Harris

The Conroe area is home to two major business parks and serves as a hub for manufacturing and distribution.

Located about 40 miles north of Downtown along I-45, Conroe offers an attractive environment for companies from manufacturing and technology to distribution and logistics. The Conroe Park North is one of the largest industrial parks in the region at more than 1,000 acres, providing construction-ready sites with utilities, signage and more.

The nearly 250-acre Deison Technology Park offers a campus-like environment for tech companies in close proximity to major residential developments and the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport. 

Workforce within 5 miles: 180,000
Median area home value: $225,000
Median household income: $77,600
County: Montgomery

Just 30 miles northwest of Downtown along US 290, Cypress area offers a pro-business culture with a diversified work force and a variety of educational institutions. A historically rural community, the Cypress of today has become one of the most sought-after suburban residential areas in the region thanks to abundant and relatively affordable housing.  

Major industries in the area include manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, education and health care.

Workforce within 5 miles: 436,700
Median area home value: $264,000
Median household income: $80,700
County: Harris

With its soaring skyscrapers, dynamic entertainment scene and growing residential population, Downtown Houston has become one of the most active central business districts in the nation.

More than 50 million square feet of office space is concentrated in dozens of buildings across Downtown. Approximately 3,500 businesses operate within the district including the headquarters of ten Fortune 500 companies, among the highest concentrations in the state of Texas. Those businesses employ more than 150,000 workers. Beyond business, Downtown's ongoing revitalization includes more restaurant, nightlife and entertainment options as well as urban parks, four professional sports stadiums and thousands of new residential units that are helping create a more energized district. 

Workforce within five miles: 764,700
Median area household income: $61,300
County: Harris

The Energy Corridor is a roughly seven-mile long district running on both sides of I-10 between Beltway 8 and the Grand Parkway. It's located immediately north of the Westchase business district. A multitude of energy companies, energy services firms and businesses in other sectors have offices in the Corridor and its more than 26 million square feet of office space.

Workforce within 5 miles: 272,200
Median area home value: $310,000
Median household income: $74,600
County: Harris

A hub for trade and offshore services, Galveston is also where the region retreats for relaxation.

Tourism, education and healthcare are the driving forces of the Galveston area economy. Port Galveston is a deep water seaport and one of the top cruise ports in the nation. Galveston is also a hub for the offshore energy services sector and maritime trade related activities. More than 20,000 people commute to work each day on the island, which also draws more than 6.5 million visitors and tourists annually. 

Workforce within 5 miles: 30,600
Median home value: $200,000
Median household income: $45,800
County: Galveston

Tech companies, startups and other companies will enjoy the synergy of Houston's emerging Innovation Corridor. 

The Innovation Corridor is at the center of an extraordinarily powerful social and economic convergence. The four-mile-long Corridor is linked by light-rail, bike lanes, and sidewalks and offers easy access to key industry and institutional players along with an unparalleled array of amenities.

At the center of the Corridor is the Innovation District, clustered around a historic art deco building at the southern end of Midtown that is now The Ion. Rice University is developing the 9.4-acre Innovation District that will bring the area's entrepreneurial, corporate and academic communities together. A number of groups including the nonprofit Houston Exponential will take up residence in the development once it's complete.

Stretching from Downtown south through the Medical Center, the four-mile-long Innovation Corridor offers easy access to key industry and institutional players and an unparalleled array of amenities.

Workforce within 5 miles: 240,300
Median area home value: $406,000
Median household income: $78,100
County: Harris

Katy offers proximity to the major companies along the Energy Corridor while also retaining the charm and living options of a suburban enclave.

When it comes to total population and workforce, the Katy area is one of the fastest growing submarkets in the Houston region. Located 30 minutes west of Downtown along the I-10 corridor, Katy has proven attractive for major distribution centers and manufacturing operations as well as a thriving crossroads for retailers. Couple that with a relatively low cost of living, excellent public schools, and abundant and growing housing options and it's clear why Katy rates high on many lists of most desirable cities.

Workforce within 5 miles: 107,900
Median area home value: $261,600
Median household income: $87,800
County: Fort Bend/Waller 

Kingwood and the Lake Houston area offer an ideal location for businesses looking for a corporate headquarters or a major logistics hub. 

Located roughly 30 miles north of Downtown and just northeast of Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Lake Houston community and the surrounding area offers a rich environment for residents seeking a great value with high quality schools, trails, parks and lake amenities. It's also a great logistics hub for companies looking to be in close proximity to the airport and Port Houston.

Workforce within 5 miles: 86,500
Median area home value: $245,000
Median household income: $90,200
County: Harris

The Texas Medical Center employs over 106,000 people, hosts 10 million patient encounters annually, and has a gross domestic product of $25 billion.

The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is a 2.1-square-mile medical district and neighborhood in south-central Houston, Texas. By square footage it’s the eight largest business district in the nation. Over sixty medical institutions, largely concentrated in a triangular area between Brays Bayou, Rice University, and Hermann Park, are members of the Texas Medical Center Corporation—a non-profit umbrella organization—which constitutes the largest medical complex in the world.

TMC has an extremely high density of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research. TMC is serviced by the METRORail Red Line which connects the district to Downtown Houston and NRG Park along the city's Innovation Corridor. 

Workforce within 5 miles: 254,300
Median household income: $81,900
County: Harris

Pearland is largely located in northern Brazoria County south of Houston, with portions of the city extend north into Harris County and west into Fort Bend County. Affordable housing, outstanding schools, safe neighborhoods and superb quality of life has led to tremendous growth in Pearland. It is the third-largest city in the Houston MSA, and from 2000 to 2010, ranked as the fastest-growing city in the Houston MSA and the second-fastest-growing city in Texas.

Close proximity to Houston, just a short 20-minute drive to downtown, allows residents and businesses to experience all the city has to offer including professional sports, world-class cultural amenities and recreation. Pearland's labor force and job base grew substantially with its population growth. The city’s workforce and community amenities have made Pearland an attractive location for large medical-related companies seeking new quarters. Other employers in the area include retail, manufacturing, energy, and business and professional services.

Workforce within 5 miles:150,300
Median area home value: $255,000
Median household income: $72,900
County: Brazoria

The 50-mile Houston Ship Channel serves as one of the region's top trade gateways to the world. 

Stretching 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the heart of city, the Houston Ship Channel is the largest trade hub for the metropolitan region. Originally built in 1914 along the pathway of Buffalo Bayou, the Channel has been widened and deepened over the decades. Today the channel is the conduit for ocean-going vessels between Houston and the rest of the world. Dozens of companies, from agriculture traders to petrochemical manufacturers, have operations along the Ship Channel allowing them to move goods and services to and from the metro region.

Workforce within five miles:160,900
Median area home value: $145,000
Median household income: $47,700
County: Harris

Sugar Land is a city in Fort Bend County, located in the southwestern part of Houston approximately 19 miles southwest of Downtown Houston. Sugar Land has grown rapidly alongside other edge cities around Houston, with large-scale development of master-planned communities contributing to population swells since the 1980s.

Sugar Land offers a strong economy through diversification and corporate vitality that is continually rrecognized on a national level for its business climate, excellent schools, rich amenities, and quality of life. As a regional employment center, with nearly 26 million square feet of commercial space, the City is home to high-profile corporations. There is a large energy industry presence, as well as a large number of international energy, software, engineering, and product firms.

Workforce within 5 miles: 364,300
Median area home value: $374,300
Median household income: $64,400
County: Fort Bend

Numerous office and residential towers coupled with abundant retail and restaurant options make Uptown one of the most sought-after areas of the city.

Once known affectionately as the Galleria area thanks to the eponymous mall, Uptown Houston today is a dense, business and retail district just six miles to the west of Downtown. Centered along Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road, the district's abundant skyscrapers and bustling action make it a prestigious address for many companies that call Houston home. Uptown covers roughly 1,000 acres and is among the top 20 business and shopping districts in the nation. 

Workforce within 5 miles: 319,100
Median area home value: $265,000
Median household income: $94,200
County: Harris

Located just 27 miles north of Houston, The Woodlands Area includes The Woodlands, a nationally-renowned master-planned community, the cities of Oak Ridge North and Shenandoah. The area has enjoyed unprecedented commercial growth and executive amenities in the last several years. An unmatched quality of life offers excellent education opportunities, a variety of living options, proximity to Bush Intercontinental Airport, Interstate 45 and easy access to the Houston region with the new Grand Parkway.

The area’s economic base is well diversified with over 4,000 employers, including all sectors, located in the area. These businesses range from owner-operated establishments to global corporate headquarters. A civilian labor force of more than half a million people provides local employers with excellent workforce opportunities.

Workforce within 5 miles:102,200
Median area home value: $335,000
Median household income: $91,900
County: Montgomery