Zillow compares employment and income growth to determine the best markets to be in right now. How did our city do?

The nuances discerning a good economy from a bad one are plenty and complicated, but for a brief diagnosis, Zillow compared metro-wide employment numbers with average job and income growth. The report’s aim was to determine the quality and affordability of housing markets, which has become a chief concern among buyers hesitant to enter or reenter the market.

According to Zillow’s research, Houston has faired particularly well this past year, falling into what the group describes as its “sweet spot,” where both employment and incomes have benefitted from healthy growth. Among the metros reviewed, Houston displayed some of the strongest momentum, with annual employment growth averaging 3.6 percent and average annual weekly income growth reaching 4.3 percent.