Deciding to sell your home and move your family to another city or state is full of overwhelming unknowns. Will you like your new city? What part of town should you buy a home in?
The consequences of your choices can have long-term effects on your everyday quality of life. If you’re thinking of buying a home in Houston, you’ll want to know which neighborhoods are the most enticing.
When it comes to determining the best neighborhoods in Houston, families will want to consider things like the culture of the neighborhood, the quality of the school district, and the length of their commute to work.
If you’re considering where to live in Houston, then you’ve already chosen an innovative, diverse, and culturally rich city featuring beautiful weather, excellent professional sports, and a thriving culinary scene.
In fact, Houston is one of the best-ranked places to live in Texas. Spanning over 600 square miles and housing seven million residents, there is no shortage of nice places to live or exciting things to do in this great city.
Keep reading to learn more about the best neighborhoods to live in Houston.
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1. The Heights
If your dream home is Bungalow, Craftsman, Queen Anne, or Victorian, you have to check out life in the Heights. One of the top neighborhoods in Houston for walkability, this historic area is full of great bars and restaurants.
Block parties and street fairs are very popular and common in the Heights. White Linen Nights and Lights in the Heights are two community favorites.
This neighborhood is very committed to its local businesses. There are even block parties of which the entire theme is supporting local businesses. You’ll be sure to find excellent antique shopping in this part of town.
Considered a historic city landmark, the area does have strict guidelines around the types of homes and businesses you can build. This contributes to the charming feel of walking through a town from a bygone era.
The average cost of a home in the Heights is $577,000.
2. River Oaks
One of the most spectacular old money neighborhoods in Houston, the community of River Oaks is considered the pinnacle of Houston real estate. The streets of River Oaks are lined with historic mansions and oak canopies.
This neighborhood celebrates a rich history and its residents have helped to shape the city’s trajectory in many ways. Other Houston neighborhoods may come and go, but River Oaks is here to stay.
It’s also an excellent destination for shopping and entertainment. Check out the River Oaks District, the Landmark Theater, and some of Houston’s most beloved restaurants like La Griglia and Brasserie 19.
The average cost of a home in River Oaks is around $2,250,000.
3. West University
West University is one of the best neighborhoods in Houston for families. Technically a city in its own right, West U goes by the moniker “The Neighborhood City” and features some of Houston’s top-rated schools.
The crime rate in West U is also one of the lowest in the country. The West University neighborhood offers convenient access to Hermann Park, the Museum District, a premier medical center, and Rice University.
Designated as the best city to live in in the U.S. during 2018 and 2019, residents love the small-town feel West U offers despite being located in the center of one of the country’s largest cities.
You can expect to see families hanging out on the lawn in the evenings and children climbing the spectacular oak trees. It’s just that kind of place. The average cost of a home in West U is around $1,489,000.
4. Memorial
Memorial is one of the good neighborhoods in Houston for a mix of the suburban and urban feel. If you’re looking for a place that’s outside the city, but with convenient city amenities within reach, check out Memorial.
Situated between Downtown Houston and the Energy Corridor, the Memorial neighborhood is the ideal location to settle into a private, quieter lifestyle. It also boasts two high-quality school districts, Spring Branch and Katy.
But Memorial also has plenty of perks like a country club, a golf club, and the walkable shopping areas Memorial City Mall and the Galleria. You’ll also find a bevy of cafes, restaurants, and nightlife options in Memorial.
The selection of homes for sale in Memorial is a mixture of large traditional and contemporary single-family and attached homes. The properties feature spacious, forested lots, and are close to some of the city’s best parks.
Living in Memorial you get the best of suburban life just 20 minutes away from Downtown Houston. The average cost of a home in Memorial is $610,000.
5. The Museum District
The Museum District is the arts and cultural heart of Houston. This area features 19 museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Children’s Museum, the Houston Zoo, and the Contemporary Arts Museum.
The Museum District is also home to the 445-acre Hermann Park. This epic park features an outdoor theater, a golf course, running trails, and a sprawling green space.
Although lot sizes are far smaller in this part of town, what you lose in acreage you gain in amenities. If you want to live where all of the best parts of Houston are within arms reach, the Museum District is the place.
The average cost of a home in the Museum District is $532,000.
6. Downtown Houston
The nine downtown districts that form the heart of Downtown Houston are great choices for young professionals looking for a condo or penthouse close to work and smack in the middle of the best that Houston has to offer.
While there aren’t great options for families downtown, residents will love the proximity to Minute Maid Park’s concert venues, parks, bars, and restaurants. You’re also in the heart of the theatre district.
Downtown Houston has been experiencing a commercial boom, but residential living is limited to luxury high-rise condos, apartments, and million-dollar multi-bedroom penthouses with incredible amenities.
7. Spring Branch
Spring Branch is one of the larger neighborhoods in Houston and offers a similar vibe to life in the nearby Memorial neighborhood. There is ample room to build in this family-friendly Houston neighborhood.
Historically, Spring Branch began as a singularly German community in the 1800s even before Houston was officially a city. Nowadays, Spring Branch is one of the most diverse communities in all of Houston.
Spring Branch is one of the best neighborhoods to live in Houston if you want to enjoy the city’s rich diversity without giving up the dream of a spacious home and property.
The neighborhood of Spring Branch is also located perfectly in between the city and suburbs so you get the best of everything Houston has to offer. The average cost of a home in Spring Branch is $582,000.
8. Midtown
Wondering where to go in Houston for a neighborhood that’s a mix of trendy and eccentric? Check out Houston’s lively Midtown neighborhood. This area is adjacent to downtown and is home to many young professionals.
Access to Houston’s hippest bars, restaurants, museums, and shops is what you’ll get living in this high walkable part of Houston. The area’s popularity is growing, but it remains one of the most affordable areas in the Inside Loop.
Similar to downtown, it’s easy to find a luxury condo in Midtown, but the area also features many nice apartments, lofts, and single-family homes.The average cost of a Midtown home is around $361,000.
9. Bellaire
Like West University, the community of Bellaire is technically a city of its own. It sits adjacent to Downtown Houston, and near ample shopping centers like the Galleria.
Another of the best neighborhoods to live in if you’re moving a family to Houston, Bellaire features larger lots than what you’ll find in West U. However, this neighborhood is less centrally located than the former.
In addition, the Bellaire neighborhood has a strong Jewish community and notable Jewish establishments like the Evelyn Rubenstein Community Center and the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston.
The average cost of a home in Bellaire is around $1 million.
10. Montrose
The artistic, eclectic, bohemian neighborhood of Montrose is one of the most creative and hip communities in all of Houston. Many residents compare it to the city of Austin.
Montrose offers an abundance of vintage shopping, quirky bars, and chill restaurants for residents to enjoy. It also features excellent live music, myriad art galleries, and it’s adjacent to Houston’s Museum District.
This part of town is ideal for anyone looking to be at the core of the arts, music, and cultural scene in Houston. It’s also the epicenter of the city’s LGBTQIA community.
The average cost of a home in Montrose is $574,235.
11. Katy
If high-quality schools are your top priority in determining the best places to live in Houston, then look no further than the community of Katy. The Katy Independent School District is famously the best in the city.
Katy is also conveniently located between the Energy Corridor and Memorial City, so you’ll only be living a few miles away from Houston’s major employment centers.
As far as buying a home in Katy, this is the neighborhood where you’ll find master-planned communities and walkable subdivisions. Choose between Seven Meadows, Pine Mill Ranch, Cinco Ranch, and Young Ranch.
Katy also offers excellent apartment living options at low prices.
Conveniently located off of the major freeways and featuring entertainment centers, parks, shopping centers, and some of the best schools in Houston, Katy offers everything you could want for your family.
12. Tanglewood
The perfect neighborhood for anyone who wants a secluded home in the woods with easy access to the city, it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with Tanglewood.
This gorgeous neighborhood offers a woodsy escape for its residents while sitting just outside the 610 Loop near all of the best conveniences and amenities Houston has to offer.
The Tanglewood neighborhood offers some of the best land and home value appreciation rates in the city. It has also been home to some of Houston’s most celebrated residents like Joel Osteen and George and Barbara Bush.
Tanglewood is the place to be if you’re looking for a scenic, quiet neighborhood surrounded by some of Houston’s most elite, but down-to-earth residents.
The average cost of a home in Tanglewood is $2.5 million.
13. The Woodlands
Another excellent choice for the Houston resident seeking a bucolic, forested suburb is the aptly named Woodlands community. Just a 30-minute drive north of Houston, this 28,000-acre planned community has everything.
You’ll find all kinds of amenities in the Woodlands, from excellent hiking, biking, kayaking, and an outdoor amphitheater. Enjoy a swan boat ride on the lake with the family on the weekend.
The Woodlands is an affluent community that’s ideal for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone interested in pursuing an active lifestyle. It’s also ideal if you just like to sit still and soak up nature.
Golfing, tennis, and kayaking are some of the favorite activities of the Woodlands residents. The Woodlands also offers a taste of urban life with an ample amount of shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, and green spaces.
Education is one of the top priorities for the Woodlands community. You can be assured your children will attend some of the top schools in the Houston area while living in this community.
The average cost of a home is around $525,000 in the Woodlands and there are many homes available for over $1 million.
Researching the best neighborhoods in Houston for families
Houston is one of the largest and most advantageous cities to live in the United States. With an abundance of museums, professional sports, science and medical innovation, and thriving art centers, it has a lot to offer.
Choosing between the best neighborhoods in Houston is only a challenge because of the variety of excellent options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for suburban quiet or urban vibrancy, you’ll find it.
Need to sell your home with a cash buyer so you can move to this incredible city? Skip the hassle of hiring a real estate agent or appraiser. Get a free home valuation immediately.
