Oak Forest

Oak Forest is a large residential community in northwest Houston, Texas, United States. Oak Forest is the third largest group of subdivisions in Harris County. Oak Forest is in northwest Houston, outside of, and north of the 610 Loop and east of U.S. Route 290. Richard Connelly of the Houston Press said “Oak Forest itself is a less prominent little sister to Garden Oaks” and that “Oak Forest offers everything Garden Oaks does, more or less, but at cheaper prices.”

Houstonia magazine stated that beginning in 2000 Oak Forest began attracting “creative types” who wanted to establish families or who could not afford the Houston Heights or Montrose. In 2010 the Houston Press ranked Oak Forest one of the “The Five Most Underrated Neighborhoods In Houston.”

2011 Jason Light, the owner of the real estate firm Light Group, was quoted in the Houston Chronicle referring to Oak Forest as the “new West University”. Marlene Casares, a woman quoted in the same article, called Oak Forest as “like a little mini Bellaire, but with better prices.” By 2013 many families were moving into Oak Forest and nearby Garden Oaks. In 2013 Houstonia magazine stated that Oak Forest, which was “starting to resemble a baby Bellaire or West University,” was one of the “25 Hottest Neighborhoods” in Houston.

Oak Forest’s public schools are operated by Houston Independent School District. The community is divided between Trustee District I and Trustee District VII.