Best Neighborhoods in Houston to Buy a House
Looking for a new home in Houston? Here's a list of the best communities based on their 5-year real estate appreciation rates.
The question we've gotten the most this year is, "What are the best real estate investments in Houston?"
In exploring what an "ideal" real estate investment is, we've found that our clients typically look for:
- 5-7 year time horizon
- A track record that has outperformed the US stock market
- Consistent rental demand
Houston's 600+ square miles offer diverse investment options; half of the clients prefer to stay within specific regions, and half are open to any location.
We divided the city into 6 regions and noted the following information for each based on the following:
- Top-performing neighborhoods over the last 5 years
- Median home price
- Median sales price increase
Past success does not guarantee future results, but the top performers share common traits:
- Abundance of new construction
- Increase in public school ratings
- Proximity to major job centers
"The Houston Properties Team helped me find a fabulous new home. They provided excellent resources and helped me understand both the financial aspect and the ins and outs of the neighborhood. They are the best real estate agents near me." – Eric Gronkberg
Table of Contents
- Best Neighborhoods in Houston to Buy a House: Inner Loop
- Best Neighborhoods in Houston to Buy a House: Close In (But Not Inner Loop)
- Best Suburbs in Houston: West / Southwest
- Best Suburbs in Houston: North / Northwest
- Best Suburbs in Houston: East / Northeast
- Best Suburbs in Houston: South / Southeast
- Houston Major Events In the Past 5 Years
- Best Places to Live in Houston Methodology
- Best Houston Realtor: The Houston Properties Team
Best Neighborhoods in Houston to Buy a House: Inner Loop
"We lucked upon Paige and the Houston Properties Team when we decided to locate a property inside the Houston 610 loop. We were very impressed by her professionalism and warm personality. Not only was she knowledgeable about the current market trends, but as the process unfolded, she always provided us with valuable and timely advice, regularly updating us with progress and information. She was very patient as she walked us through a complex process. She is the best Houston realtor and we hope others won't have to depend on luck to find her. If you need a realtor in Houston, call her quickly and get ready to be wowed! – Eddie (Google Review)
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Braeswood Place | $1,356,375 | 45.5% |
| Northside | $275,000 | 39.6% |
| River Oaks Area | $3,226,514 | 37.3% |
| Bellaire Area | $1,199,000 | 34.2% |
| West University/Southside Area | $1,862,500 | 33.2% |
| Timbergrove/Lazybrook | $646,650 | 31.6% |
| Heights/Greater Heights | $679,950 | 30.3% |
| Cottage Grove | $518,000 | 25.1% |
| River Oaks Shopping Area | $992,583 | 25.0% |
| University Area | $330,000 | 24.5% |
| *Briar Hollow | $764,500 | 22.9% |
| Knollwood/Woodside | $555,600 | 22.0% |
| Royden Oaks/Afton Oaks | $1,175,000 | 21.1% |
| Washington East/Sabine | $540,000 | 20.8% |
| Upper Kirby | $1,048,095 | 20.1% |
| Montrose | $778,884 | 18.3% |
| Rice Military/Washington Corridor | $560,000 | 17.9% |
| *Midtown Houston | $388,000 | 16.8% |
| Highland Village / Midlane | $1,235,000 | 13.8% |
| Denver Harbor | $330,000 | 13.0% |
| *East End Revitalized | $355,000 | 12.0% |
| *Downtown Houston | $288,750 | 5.2% |
| Riverside | $375,000 | 4.5% |
| Memorial Park | $1,560,000 | 4.3% |
| Rice / Museum District | $1,030,000 | 3.0% |
| *Medical Center Area | $250,000 | 0.0% |
| *Greenway Plaza | $447,500 | -15.6% |
| *The Hawthorne | $2,595,000 | N/A |
| *The Westmore | $1,050,000 | N/A |
Inner Loop is home to some of Houston's Best Neighborhoods to buy a house. This area ranked as one of the top regions in Texas.
CNN Money dubbed the Inner Loop to have "one of the best commutes in the country", with proximity to Houston's major job centers.
The region features the hottest neighborhoods in Houston. Downtown, the Galleria and Museum District offer plenty of dining options, museums, and shops.
Click here to learn why land gives more value for money than structure.
See details on Inner Loop's best neighborhoods to buy a house.
Best Neighborhoods in Houston to Buy a House: Close In (But Not Inner Loop)
"Every single member of the Houston Properties Team was a delight to work with. They are always available, attentive, and active in the pursuit of the right buyer. Their advice was spot-on and helped us sell our home in just 5 days. Best of all, when it really mattered, they bent over backward to ensure an easy closing. We cannot thank them enough. If you want a smart team with a solid understanding of the market on your side, I recommend you hire the Houston Properties Team – they won't let you down.” – Linda Chang
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| *Charnwood/Briarbend | $432,500 | 82.5% |
| Rivercrest | $5,226,100 | 48.6% |
| Northwest Houston | $297,055 | 48.5% |
| Garden Oaks | $845,000 | 45.1% |
| Gulfton | $298,000 | 45.0% |
| Briargrove Park/Walnutbend | $645,000 | 41.1% |
| Tanglewood Area | $2,160,000 | 37.5% |
| Westchase Area | $811,000 | 37.5% |
| Five Corners | $250,000 | 37.0% |
| Meyerland Area | $503,500 | 33.7% |
| Shepherd Park Plaza Area | $459,900 | 33.3% |
| Briargrove | $1,140,000 | 30.9% |
| Memorial Close In | $2,300,000 | 27.6% |
| Memorial Villages | $2,050,000 | 27.3% |
| Brays Oaks | $305,000 | 27.1% |
| Medical Center South | $243,750 | 26.3% |
| Spring Branch | $434,000 | 25.8% |
| Oak Forest East | $490,000 | 24.2% |
| Briarmeadow/Tanglewilde | $406,990 | 23.3% |
| Oak Forest West | $357,500 | 23.3% |
| Willow Meadows Area | $352,500 | 19.5% |
| *Sharpstown Area | $248,000 | 18.7% |
| *Galleria | $310,000 | 17.0% |
| *Winrock | $189,000 | -4.5% |
Some of the most expensive zip codes in Houston are located near The Galleria and The Energy Corridor, with quick access to Downtown Houston.
This area is ideal for buying a house and is close to upscale shopping destinations such as The Galleria and River Oaks Shopping Center.
Is buying a house in Houston a good investment? Find out here.
See details on Close In Houston's best neighborhoods to buy a house.
Best Suburbs in Houston: West / Southwest
“Paige Martin and her team are simply the best. She has worked with my husband and me for the last couple of years in our quest to find the perfect first home. She was patient with us throughout the process and took the time to answer all of our questions! She knows so much about the housing market so we felt very confident that we were in great hands!” – Dr. Jen Shroff
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Brookshire | $320,000 | 53.9% |
| Katy Southwest | $516,300 | 47.5% |
| Sugar Land East | $460,000 | 45.6% |
| Fort Bend County North / Richmond | $407,711 | 44.1% |
| Fort Bend Southeast | $500,000 | 42.9% |
| Sugar Land South | $620,000 | 42.5% |
| Katy Southeast | $426,000 | 40.6% |
| Katy North | $304,990 | 40.5% |
| Mission Bend Area | $300,000 | 39.5% |
| Stafford Area | $269,949 | 38.4% |
| Bear Creek South | $280,000 | 38.0% |
| Energy Corridor | $463,000 | 36.2% |
| Sugar Land West | $465,000 | 34.8% |
| Fort Bend South / Richmond | $341,560 | 33.9% |
| Sugar Land North | $339,900 | 33.4% |
| Fulshear/South Brookshire | $442,745 | 33.4% |
| Alief | $255,000 | 33.0% |
| Katy Old Towne | $380,000 | 31.0% |
| Missouri City Area | $297,992 | 29.6% |
| *Memorial West | $699,500 | 27.2% |
| Sienna Area | $415,000 | 26.1% |
West/Southwest is a great place to buy a house, offering multiple high-performing schools, including some of Houston's top schools.
It also has many master-planned communities, some with unique amenities like village farms.
The region is in Fort Bend County, listed by Forbes as one of America's fastest-growing counties, and home to headquarters of several Fortune 500 companies, employing top suburbs in Houston.
Based on Houston's house price history, some suburbs in this area are relatively affordable.
How much does a Houston home cost to close? Read our Home Buying Guide here.
See details on West / Southwest's best neighborhoods to buy a house.
Best Suburbs in Houston: North / Northwest
"Our experience working with the Houston Properties Team is exceptional. From day one, we felt as though we had a personal team handling the sale of our home. They consistently provided us with reports and advice on how to proceed. All their efforts not only lead to a successful and lucrative close but also eliminated a great deal of the anxiety and pressure.” – Arpita Niranjan
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| The Woodlands | $638,000 | 55.0% |
| Hempstead | $247,500 | 46.0% |
| Spring Northeast | $410,000 | 40.8% |
| Champions Area | $360,000 | 40.5% |
| Eldridge North | $360,000 | 38.5% |
| Willowbrook South | $270,000 | 38.5% |
| Cypress North | $380,000 | 38.2% |
| Copperfield Area | $332,750 | 35.8% |
| Jersey Village | $353,000 | 35.8% |
| 1960/Cypress Creek North | $305,000 | 35.6% |
| Cypress South | $435,490 | 35.1% |
| 1960/Cypress Creek South | $258,115 | 34.4% |
| Aldine Area | $235,000 | 34.3% |
| Spring/Klein | $335,000 | 34.0% |
| Tomball South/Lakewood | $395,000 | 33.9% |
| Tomball Southwest | $430,000 | 32.9% |
| 1960/Cypress | $298,500 | 32.7% |
| Spring/Klein/Tomball | $335,000 | 31.1% |
| Waller | $352,250 | 28.8% |
| Hockley | $298,000 | 28.5% |
| Lake Conroe Area | $332,000 | 23.9% |
| Tomball | $375,000 | 23.4% |
| Magnolia/1488 West | $315,000 | 17.5% |
| Magnolia/1488 East | $357,525 | 8.3% |
| Conroe Southwest | $305,000 | 7.0% |
Houston's North/Northwest region boasts some of the best suburbs in our list, offering top-notch amenities and schools. This creates a high standard of living and attracts plenty of homebuyers.
The Woodlands, a well-known Houston suburb, is a hub for retail and employment, aiming to be the premier place to reside in Houston.
See details on North / Northwest's best neighborhoods to buy a house.
Best Suburbs in Houston: East / Northeast
"The Houston Properties Team is fantastic!!! I use to live in a townhome community. My neighbor’s home came on the market two weeks before we listed. My home sold and theirs is still sitting on the market (now a month after our closing!) Their marketing program works. I’d highly recommend them to anyone who wants to sell their home.” – Brian Donaldson Shell International Exploration & Production
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Houston | $239,550 | 50.7% |
| Kingwood South | $380,000 | 44.8% |
| Atascocita North | $304,425 | 39.8% |
| Kingwood West | $309,949 | 39.6% |
| Spring East | $256,815 | 39.6% |
| Kingwood East | $428,550 | 37.4% |
| La Porte/Shoreacres | $278,000 | 35.6% |
| Willis/New Waverly | $249,250 | 34.7% |
| Fall Creek Area | $449,000 | 34.4% |
| Humble Area East | $260,000 | 34.1% |
| Humble Area West | $260,000 | 34.1% |
| Pasadena | $245,000 | 32.4% |
| Deer Park | $289,000 | 31.4% |
| Humble Area South | $264,950 | 30.7% |
| Atascocita South | $309,000 | 29.6% |
| Porter / New Caney East | $310,000 | 29.2% |
| Crosby Area | $279,796 | 28.3% |
| Summerwood / Lakeshore | $377,868 | 27.2% |
| Conroe Southeast | $287,000 | 26.8% |
| Kingwood NW/Oakhurst | $304,210 | 23.9% |
| Conroe Northeast | $251,032 | 20.1% |
| Porter / New Caney West | $250,000 | 13.7% |
| Huffman Area | $267,245 | 13.0% |
East/North East offers sophisticated living with several master-planned communities. Its neighborhoods feature a good number of community amenities.
The region features proximity to job centers and several top-rated schools, raising the demand for home buyers and investors alike.
These advantages made its neighborhoods some of the best places to live in Houston.
Here's a curated list of the Best Neighborhoods in Houston Texas For Investment.
See details on East / Northeast's best neighborhoods to buy a house.
Best Suburbs in Houston: South / Southeast
The Houston Properties Team provided excellent resources and guidance. Their staging, photography, and marketing were second to none. We joked that the pictures online could not have come from our house!!! They brought a lot of buyers through, and we were fortunate enough to have multiple offers to choose from. They helped us pick a great offer and negotiated very strongly on our behalf. In addition, they got us a free leaseback, so we had time to find our new home after closing. We highly recommend them for real estate needs.”-Jeff, Cinda &Billy Long
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Rosharon | $532,495 | 43.0% |
| Alvin North | $409,900 | 41.8% |
| Tiki Island | $845,000 | 39.9% |
| Santa Fe | $354,640 | 38.7% |
| South Houston | $220,000 | 36.6% |
| Pearland | $378,650 | 36.2% |
| Southbelt / Ellington | $269,000 | 31.2% |
| Friendswood | $391,000 | 31.2% |
| Dickinson | $300,000 | 29.9% |
| Hobby Area | $233,000 | 29.5% |
| Alvin South | $290,000 | 28.9% |
| Clear Lake Area | $364,900 | 28.0% |
| League City | $375,000 | 27.5% |
| Bacliff/San Leon | $245,000 | 11.9% |
| La Marque | $230,000 | 10.6% |
South/Southeast Houston is near major business centers, including the Texas Medical Center, Downtown Houston, and the Galleria.
It is home to excellent schools and beautiful master-planned communities. Find endless amenities such as resort-style pools, trails, lakes, parks, and some of Houston's best golf course communities.
South/Southeast neighborhoods require a lower cost of living. (Read Salary Needed For Living in Houston Neighborhoods.)
See details on South / Southeast's best neighborhoods to buy a house.
Houston Major Events In the Past 5 Years
"The Houston Properties Team under the leadership of Paige Martin is one of the most successful real estate teams in Texas. Paige and her team take the pain out of the real estate experience through hard work, proprietary systems and processes, and a deep understanding of the hyper-local Houston real estate market. She's ranked #5 in Keller Williams worldwide and #1 in Houston with good reason." – Sandy (Google Review)
Key turning points in Houston real estate:
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Oil Price Crash (2015 & 2020)
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Houston's Relocation Boom (2017-2022)
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COVID Lockdown (early 2020)
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COVID Real Estate Boom (2020 - 2021)
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Increase in Inflation (2022)
However, key investment themes remain the same:
Houston real estate is hyper-local. See how your neighborhood is trending now.
Best Places to Live in Houston Methodology
"It’s hard to find a team that has your best interests at heart, especially when dealing with real estate. Paige Martin and the Houston Properties Team are amazing! They’re incredibly candid about their recommendations, they care a great deal about their clients, and they make sure you won’t make decisions you’re bound to regret. I’d highly recommend them if you’re looking for a great Houston realtor. You will thank me!" – Elizabeth (Google Review)
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The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has categorized the Houston general metropolitan service area. It has created about 200 distinct "Geo Market Areas."
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All Houston area properties in the MLS are classified into one Geo Market Area based on their location.
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Since Houston sprawls over 600 square miles, we took the Geo Market Areas within a 40-mile radius of Houston. We did not include areas like Angelina County, Tyler County, and Freeport. They are generally considered outside of the Houston-Woodlands-Baytown MSA.
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We categorized these geo markets into six regions:
1) Inner Loop. (All or most of the Geo Market Area resides in Houston's 610 Loop.)
2) Close In, But Not In the Inner Loop. (All or most of the Geo Market Area resides in Houston's Beltway 8, but not within 610 Loop.)
3) West / Southwest areas.
4) North / Northwest areas.
5) East / Northeast areas.
6) South / Southeast areas.
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Default median housing prices are from single-family homes except in these neighborhoods. Condos, townhomes, and single-family homes are considered in these neighborhoods. This is due to the above-average number of condos/townhomes in these market areas. All regions where anything other than single-family homes are used have a * designation.
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Annual home prices are based on HAR MLS reported sales for the prior year between January 1 and May 31. Starting on June 1, the current year HAR MLS sales data is used.
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Reporters or news outlets, please get in touch with Paige@HoustonProperties.com for details. We may provide an Excel export of every neighborhood’s associated data and calculations.
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Data is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Information is provided for informational purposes only.
Best Houston Realtor: The Houston Properties Team
The Houston Properties Team has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member. Each member is a specialist in their role – which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average.
Paige Martin, Broker Associate with Keller Williams Realty, and the Houston Properties Team are ranked among the top residential Realtors in the world.
They have been featured on TV and in dozens of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Reuters, Fox News in the Morning, Money Magazine, Houston Business Journal, Houstonia, and Houston Chronicle.
Paige Martin was just ranked as the #5 agent in the world with Keller Williams, completing over $1 Billion in Houston residential real estate sales.
Recent awards include:
– 2022: #1 Residential Real Estate Team by Sales Volume, Houston Business Journal
– 2021: Best Real Estate Teams in America, RealTrends.com
– 2021: Top 100 Women Leaders in Real Estate of 2021
– 2021: America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents
– 2021: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2021: Best Houston Real Estate Team, Best of Reader’s Choice
– 2021: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2021: #1 Real Estate Team, Keller Williams Memorial
– 2020: America’s Best Real Estate Teams, Best of America Trends
– 2020: Best Houston Real Estate Team, Best of Reader’s Choice
– 2020: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2020: #6 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
– 2020: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas (Top Keller Williams Realtor)
– 2020: #1 Real Estate Team, Keller Williams Memorial
- 2019: Top Residential Realtors in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2019: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2019: #5 Individual Agent, KW Worldwide
- 2019: #1 Individual Agent, KW Texas
- 2018: #5 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2018: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2018: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2018: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2018: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2018: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2017: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2017: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2017: #10 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2017: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2017: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2017: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2016: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2016: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2016: #20 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2016: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2016: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, HBJ
- 2016: Five Star Realtor, Featured in Texas Monthly
- 2016: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2015: #9 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, United States
- 2015: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2015: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2015: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2015: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, HBJ
- 2015: Five Star Realtor, Texas Monthly Magazine
- 2014: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2014: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams Memorial
...in addition to over 318 additional awards.
Paige also serves a variety of non-profits and civic and community boards. She was appointed by the mayor of Houston to be on the downtown TIRZ board.
Benefits Of Working With The Houston Properties Team
Our team, composed of distinguished and competent Houston luxury realtors, has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member.
We find the team approach as the most effective way to sell homes. We have dedicated people doing staging, marketing, social media, open houses, and showings. Each Houston Properties Team member is a specialist in their role—which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average.
The benefits of working with a team include the following:
- the ability to be in two or three places at one time; a member can handle showings while another answers calls
- collective time and experience of members
- targeted advice and marketing of agent experts in your area
- competitive advantage by simply having more resources, more ideas, and more perspectives
- a “checks and balances” system; selling and buying a home in Houston is an intensely complex process
- more people addressing field calls and questions from buyers and agents to facilitate a faster, successful sale
- efficient multi-tasking; one agent takes care of inspections and repair work, while another agent focuses on administrative details
- multiple marketing channels using members’ networks
- constant attention: guaranteed focus on your home and your transaction
- lower risk for mistakes. Multiple moving parts increase oversights. A team approach handles these “parts” separately
- flexibility in negotiation and marketing
- better management of document flow
- increased foot traffic through more timely and effective showing schedule coordination; and
- increased sphere of influence and exposure to more potential buyers.
To meet all the award-winning members of the Houston Properties Team, please go here.
Best Houston Real Estate Resources
- Houston Texas Zip Code Map | HoustonProperties
- An Ultimate Guide to the Best Active 55+ Communities in Houston
- The Ultimate Houston Neighborhood Guide
- The Woodlands: East Shore Homes For Sale & Real Estate Trends
- The Mosaic Condo Houston | 5925 Almeda Road
