Houston County Crime Rate Down 11.54% In 2025

By Greg Ritchie

Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY — Reported crime in Houston County declined in 2025, with the overall crime rate falling by 11.54% from the previous year.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas crime-reporting dashboard, Houston County recorded a crime rate of 1,264.9 offenses per 100,000 people in 2025. That was down from 1,429.9 offenses per 100,000 people in 2024.

The county’s overall decrease was reflected in several of the most frequently reported offense categories.

Assault offenses declined from 109 cases in 2024 to 99 cases in 2025, a decrease of 9.17%. Burglary fell from 40 cases to 27, a 32.50% decrease.

Larceny-theft, which accounted for the largest number of offenses shown in the report, declined from 141 cases in 2024 to 119 cases in 2025. That represented a 15.60% decrease.

Motor vehicle theft also declined, falling from 20 cases to 18, a 10% decrease.

The report showed one case of manslaughter by negligence in both 2024 and 2025. Human trafficking remained at zero reported cases in both years.

A few categories increased despite the overall decline. Murder and nonnegligent homicide rose from two cases in 2024 to three in 2025, while robbery increased from three cases to four.

The figures are part of the state’s Crime in Texas dashboard, which allows the public to review reported crime data by county, offense and year. The dashboard notes that the information is dynamic and may be updated as law-enforcement agencies submit or correct data.

Taken as a whole, the 2025 figures show a lower reported crime rate in Houston County than the previous year, with decreases in assault, burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft helping drive the overall decline.

Overall crime rose by 51% in nearby Anderson County, fell by 14% in Angelina County, fell by 4% in Madison County and rose by 15% in Trinity County. 

Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]