In recent years, Houston has begun to develop new residential areas, attracting a younger and more diverse crowd to the downtown area. And the city's proximity to the Gulf makes it a perfect location for those who enjoy the open sea. With a number of neighborhoods and plenty of suburbs, there's no shortage of communities to choose from for the new transplant or home buyer. This article will help you find the best areas of Houston to call home.
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, this southern suburb offers a comfortable place to live and raise a family. Fairly affluent, with average family incomes falling around $130,000, Sugar Land is full of planned communities with housing ranging in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. But this hefty price tag comes with a payoff, with many neighborhoods offering their own tennis courts, golf courses and private clubs. The area is well known for its outstanding school system, and several major corporations, including Minute Maid, call Sugar Land home, providing job opportunities just a short distance away for residents. Best of all, the big city is only a short 20-mile drive away.
Less than a decade ago, downtown Houston was fairly desolate. But over the last several years, a residential boom has begun, creating new condos and high-end housing that has attracted many affluent young people and older residents looking to retire. Housing in downtown is priced steeply, climbing as high as $2 million for a top-quality condo. But with the price tag comes with many benefits, including easy access to Houston's bus and light rail system. The downtown area is rife with internationally known restaurants and a bustling bar scene. Downtown Houston is also the location of the Shops in Houston Center and the Houston Pavilions, both of which cover hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail space.
Cheaper than nearby Sugar Land, this Houston suburb offers middle-class families the good life without the hefty price tag. The median family income falls just under $100,000, and housing costs about $185,000 on average. The area has a relatively low crime rate and a fast-growing public school system with an exceptional reputation. Five health care facilities are within close proximity to Missouri City, as are 18 universities, colleges and professional schools. There is no shortage of nightlife in the suburb. The area offers residents thousands of restaurants and hundreds of bars to choose from, well more than the national average for a city of its size, which is a sizable 70,000 residents.