Best Houston Neighborhoods to Raise a Family in 2019
Top Houston Neighborhoods to Raise a Family
Houston is such a widespread city that being new to the buying and selling market can feel intimidating when looking for a new home for you and your family. If you’re looking for a new home in the Houston area, here are 12 best neighborhoods in Houston to raise a family that combine a strong sense of community, great public education, and cultural diversity.
1. Heights
The Heights is a wonderful area of Houston located near the Katy Freeway, North Loop, and North Freeway. Easily driveable to Downtown or the Galleria area, the Heights is full of small-town charm, located right in the big city! Comprised of colorful cottages and larger homes, the Heights has it all. From restaurants and top-notch schools with stellar test scores to quiet neighborhoods to raise a family in, you are sure to find a beautiful Heights home perfect for you and your family.
2. Rice Military
Located near Allen Parkway and also known as the Washington Corridor, Rice Military is easily accessible to various entertainment and professional areas including Downtown, the Museum District, Galleria, and Memorial Park. This area of Houston offers gorgeous homes zoned to HISD schools including Memorial Elementary School. Modern, traditional, villa-style and more, finding a home in the Rice Military area is simple!
3. Timbergrove
Timbergrove, collectively known as Lazybrook/Timbergrove, has a collection of both sprawling homes and ranch-style homes. Timbergrove is located close to downtown Houston, making commuting into the busy city a snap. As older generations continue to move out of Timbergrove, it creates the perfect opportunity for young professionals and new parents to move on in. White Oak Bayou Trail is a great place to take the little ones for some outdoor family fun.
4. West University
West University, better known as West U, is comprised of many gorgeous homes that outline the prestigious Rice University. Alive with a strong sense of community, West U is known for its large trees and running trail around Rice University, and popular shopping centers including Rice Village. Notable residents of West U includes former Houston Astros player, Craig Biggio.
5. Memorial
Full of new restaurants and shops to explore, Memorial is located along Buffalo Bayou. More greenery can be found within these neighborhoods as well as pockets of real estate inspired by older architecture. Some of the more prominent characteristics of Memorial include Memorial City Mall, CityCentre, Town & Country, and Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center highlighted by the ever-present cerulean lights atop the main building. Schools in this area are zoned to Spring Branch ISD and house high performing schools like Memorial High School.
6. Clear Lake
Located near League City, Clear Lake offers an array of master-planned communities for families to settle down. Clear Lake offers easy access to the Gulf Freeway and the Sam Houston Tollway to make commuting into Houston easier. Looking for some out of this world entertainment? Take the kids to Space Center Houston and discover the wonders of NASA and other educational opportunities.
7. West Oaks
Located near the prominent Tanglewood community just outside of the Galleria, West Oaks neighborhoods often feature traditional, large homes and townhomes that have been upgraded within to display modern technology and appliances. West Oaks is zoned to notable schools within HISD including Briargrove Elementary and Tanglewood Middle School. West Oaks has been the beloved residence of the George H. W. Bush family since 1989.
8. Braeswood
Located just west of the Texas Medical Center, Braeswood is comprised of old and new homes that have settled just inside the 610 Loop. Some stellar schools reside in the Braeswood area including, Mark Twain Elementary School, Pershing Middle School, and Bellaire High School. Shop local at family-owned businesses like Three Brothers Bakery who specializes in delicious confections baked in-house like their chocolate chip cookie and key lime pie.
9. Montrose
For the family that craves outdoor fun, Montrose is the way to go. Get a skyline view of downtown at Eleanor Tinsley Park and explore the wonderfully eclectic neighborhood around you. Expose the family to local art, music, vintage shops, sweet little coffee shops, and more. Montrose is zoned to HISD and is home to some other impressive schools such as the High School of the Performing and Visual Arts. Montrose is home to former Mayor of Houston, Annise Parker.
10. Greenway/Upper Kirby
You can find beautiful homes tucked away within the Greenway Upper Kirby area. The best part? These homes feel suburban even though they are close to some of Houston’s freeways and main roads like Highway 59 and 610. This area is one of the more trendy neighborhoods in Houston to live in at the moment and offers a variety of entertainment and dining within the vicinity.
11. Sugar Land
Sugar Land is located just outside of Stafford about 20 minutes or so from the city of Houston. Sugar Land has seen some substantial growth within the past 10 years and now includes a Town Square full of things to do, a minor league baseball field, concert venue, a number of parks, and a myriad of great Fort Bend ISD elementary, middle, and high schools to choose from. You can choose from a wide selection of master planned communities within the city of Sugar Land to make your new house a home. Sugar Land is also the inspiration for the band named Sugarland, who created smash country hits like, “Stay” and “Baby Girl.”
12. Kingwood
Although a little further outside Houston than other areas listed previously, Kingwood is not quite as condensed as the city of Houston itself. Located just outside of Humble, Kingwood has a great sense of community with regular family-friendly activities and events. Kingwood has a selection of good Humble ISD schools including Kingwood High School as well as a few private schools. Boxer and entrepreneur George Foreman owns a home in the Kingwood area.
The cost of living in Houston, Texas is relatively low compared to other high-value areas throughout the U.S. If you’re thinking of moving to or around the Houston area, look no further than the Shawn Manderscheid Team for your real estate needs. With a wide variety of good schools, plentiful entertainment, outdoor activities, and so much more to explore, we are sure we can help you navigate some of the best neighborhoods in Houston for families so you can find a new place to call home.