The average school rating across Houston neighborhoods is 6.7/10.
Elite Tier — School Rating 9–10
These Houston neighborhoods have the highest school ratings in the metro.
Tanglewood is Houston's most coveted zip code — estate homes 20 minutes from downtown with the Houston Arboretum as a backyard and River Oaks District shopping within a mile. Listings here spend less time on market than anywhere else in the metro.
Crestwood-Glen Cove borders Memorial Park's 1,500 acres and sits under five miles from downtown — luxury homes on tree-lined streets with hiking, biking, and a community culture that buyers pay up to join.
River Oaks is Houston's most storied neighborhood — diverse architectural grandeur, the River Oaks Shopping Center, and a Christmas light season that draws the whole city. These homes set the pricing ceiling for the entire metro.
Spring Valley's upscale estates on large lots represent the gold standard of Houston suburban living — highly rated schools, City Park, and the kind of street privacy that only comes with genuine acreage.
Afton Oaks delivers River Oaks adjacency at a measurable discount — oak-lined streets, walkable access to River Oaks District luxury shopping, and Memorial Park a short drive away. Buyers who can't quite reach River Oaks pricing find exactly what they came for.
University Place wraps around Rice University and Hermann Park — one of Houston's most walkable neighborhoods with museum district access, the Texas Medical Center minutes away, and historic residential subdivisions that hold value across every market cycle.
Strong Tier — School Rating 8
School rating 8/10 neighborhoods offer excellent education at a more accessible price point than the elite tier.
Westbranch's easy Beltway 8 and I-10 access, Independence Park recreation, and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD school zone make it the most logistically practical affordable suburban option in west Houston — CityCentre shopping within reach and downtown under 20 minutes.
Langham Creek is quintessential west Texas suburb — newer homes on landscaped lots, parks, an excellent school district, and Highway 6 and I-10 access that makes Katy and Energy Corridor employers both reachable without living in either.
Willowbrook is northwest Houston's retail hub — Willowbrook Mall, iT'Z Family Food and Fun, Yeager Elementary and Cypress Creek High both highly rated, and the diverse shopping and entertainment infrastructure that makes this one of the metro's most self-contained suburban corridors.
Hearthstone's country club setting in Cypress gives buyers golf, Owens Elementary and Cypress Falls High both highly rated, and Copperwood Village for daily shopping — the full northwest Houston suburban package at a price that leaves room in the budget for the membership.
Steeplechase is classic American suburb done right — well-maintained homes on sidewalk-lined streets, neighborhood parks and pools, an active HOA that keeps the community genuinely sharp, and a northwest Houston location with larger lots and strong school ratings.
Best Value — Strong Schools Under $450,000
These Houston neighborhoods combine a school rating of 7 or higher with a median home price under $450,000.
A North Houston subdivision with a 9/10 school rating.
Oak Forest-Garden Oaks blends suburban lot sizes with urban amenities — large yards, local eateries, T.C. Jester Park, and Oak Forest Elementary among the metro's most highly rated schools. Buyers who want space without sacrificing school quality find their answer here.
The Energy Corridor is Houston's corporate employment anchor — major oil and gas headquarters, George Bush Park parkland, and Katy ISD schools that consistently outperform the national average.
Meyerland: highly rated schools, Brays Bayou trail access and Meyerland Plaza shopping. Low turnover means competition is real when listings appear.
Aliana sits in Fort Bend County with access to one of Texas's top-rated school districts — walking trails, two large shopping centers, playgrounds, and the kind of new-construction quality that keeps relocation buyers from looking anywhere else in the southwest suburbs.
Full Houston Neighborhood Rankings
Use this table to quickly compare any area side-by-side.
| Neighborhood | School Rating | Median Price | Walk Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louetta | 9/10 | $170k | 25/100 |
| Grand Mission | 9/10 | $237k | 30/100 |
| Eldridge North | 9/10 | $258k | 30/100 |
| Summerwood | 9/10 | $265k | 25/100 |
| Aliana | 9/10 | $364k | 30/100 |
| Energy Corridor | 9/10 | $385k | 35/100 |
| Woodsons Reserve | 9/10 | $437k | 30/100 |
| Memorial | 9/10 | $735k | 30/100 |
| Windsor Park Lakes | 9/10 | $761k | 25/100 |
| University Place | 9/10 | $826k | 68/100 |
| Spring Valley | 9/10 | $904k | 30/100 |
| River Oaks | 9/10 | $1.1M | 45/100 |
| Crestwood-Glen Cove | 9/10 | $1.3M | 40/100 |
| Champions | 9/10 | $215k | 35/100 |
| Briar Village | 9/10 | $235k | 25/100 |
| Clear Lake | 9/10 | $239k | 40/100 |
| Klein | 9/10 | $243k | 35/100 |
| Kingwood | 9/10 | $252k | 30/100 |
| Lake Houston | 9/10 | $254k | 25/100 |
| Briar Forest | 9/10 | $315k | 35/100 |
| Cottage Grove | 9/10 | $341k | 50/100 |
| Meyerland Area | 9/10 | $372k | 45/100 |
| Oak Forest-Garden Oaks | 9/10 | $398k | 45/100 |
| Braeswood Place | 9/10 | $513k | 50/100 |
| Afton Oaks | 9/10 | $832k | 45/100 |
| Tanglewood | 9/10 | $1.6M | 35/100 |
| Westbranch | 8/10 | $171k | 30/100 |
| Langham Creek | 8/10 | $172k | 25/100 |
| Willowbrook | 8/10 | $174k | 35/100 |
| Hearthstone | 8/10 | $194k | 30/100 |
| Brookhollow West | 8/10 | $216k | 35/100 |
| Oak Lake | 8/10 | $233k | 25/100 |
| Willow Meadows Willowbend | 8/10 | $263k | 40/100 |
| Woodbridge | 8/10 | $268k | 30/100 |
| Lazy Brook Timbergrove | 8/10 | $419k | 60/100 |
| Museum Park | 8/10 | $420k | 70/100 |
| Greenway-Upper Kirby | 8/10 | $449k | 58/100 |
| Greater Heights | 8/10 | $491k | 62/100 |
| Memorial Park | 8/10 | $577k | 55/100 |
| Steeplechase | 8/10 | $205k | 30/100 |
| Lakemont | 8/10 | $257k | 25/100 |
| Washington Avenue Coalition | 8/10 | $310k | 65/100 |
| Sixth Ward | 8/10 | $337k | 58/100 |
| Memorial Heights | 8/10 | $353k | 62/100 |
| Rice Military | 8/10 | $406k | 62/100 |
| Spring Branch East | 8/10 | $421k | 50/100 |
| Westchase | 8/10 | $292k | 45/100 |
| Northwest Park | 7/10 | $173k | 30/100 |
| Addicks-Park Ten | 7/10 | $190k | 30/100 |
| Westbury | 7/10 | $220k | 40/100 |
| Berkshire | 7/10 | $223k | 25/100 |
| Mid-West | 7/10 | $225k | 40/100 |
| Spring Shadows | 7/10 | $262k | 40/100 |
| Uptown-Galleria District | 7/10 | $445k | 55/100 |
| Montrose | 7/10 | $455k | 72/100 |
| Eastwood | 7/10 | $226k | 62/100 |
| Downtown Houston | 7/10 | $238k | 82/100 |
| East Downtown | 7/10 | $259k | 75/100 |
| Midtown | 7/10 | $264k | 78/100 |
| Spring Branch Central | 7/10 | $275k | 42/100 |
| Spring Branch West | 7/10 | $276k | 40/100 |
| MacGregor | 7/10 | $306k | 55/100 |
| Recreation Farms | 7/10 | $312k | 25/100 |
| Greater Inwood | 6/10 | $149k | 40/100 |
| Chinatown | 6/10 | $136k | 55/100 |
| Sharpstown | 6/10 | $139k | 45/100 |
| Alief | 6/10 | $146k | 40/100 |
| North Houston | 6/10 | $151k | 35/100 |
| Inwood North | 6/10 | $152k | 40/100 |
| Glencairn | 6/10 | $154k | 25/100 |
| Carverdale | 6/10 | $157k | 30/100 |
| Braeburn | 6/10 | $159k | 40/100 |
| Greater Hobby Area | 6/10 | $165k | 35/100 |
| Brays Oaks | 6/10 | $167k | 40/100 |
| South Main | 6/10 | $169k | 55/100 |
| Fairbanks-Northwest Crossing | 6/10 | $175k | 40/100 |
| Southbelt-Ellington | 6/10 | $176k | 35/100 |
| Minnetex | 6/10 | $182k | 25/100 |
| Lawndale-Wayside | 6/10 | $188k | 50/100 |
| Ryon | 6/10 | $189k | 55/100 |
| Independence Heights | 6/10 | $191k | 55/100 |
| Third Ward | 6/10 | $211k | 58/100 |
| Second Ward | 6/10 | $218k | 60/100 |
| Northside Village | 6/10 | $224k | 58/100 |
| Gulfton | 6/10 | $234k | 55/100 |
| Astrodome | 5/10 | $105k | 60/100 |
| Hunterwood | 5/10 | $134k | 25/100 |
| OST-South Union | 5/10 | $135k | 55/100 |
| Fort Bend Houston | 5/10 | $140k | 25/100 |
| Golfcrest-Bellfort Reveille | 5/10 | $141k | 40/100 |
| Hidden Valley | 5/10 | $145k | 30/100 |
| Northside-Northline | 5/10 | $147k | 50/100 |
| El Dorado/Oates Prairie | 5/10 | $148k | 40/100 |
| Central Southwest | 5/10 | $150k | 45/100 |
| Fifth Ward | 5/10 | $153k | 50/100 |
| Northside | 5/10 | $155k | 45/100 |
| Acres Homes | 5/10 | $162k | 45/100 |
| Pecan Park | 5/10 | $129k | 40/100 |
| East Aldine | 5/10 | $130k | 35/100 |
| Magnolia Park | 5/10 | $131k | 50/100 |
| Meadowbrook Allendale | 5/10 | $132k | 45/100 |
| South Acres-Crestmont Park | 5/10 | $133k | 35/100 |
| North Shore | 5/10 | $137k | 35/100 |
| Eastex-Jensen | 5/10 | $138k | 50/100 |
| Edgebrook | 5/10 | $142k | 40/100 |
| Fondren Gardens | 5/10 | $143k | 40/100 |
| Gulfgate-Pine Valley | 5/10 | $144k | 50/100 |
| Westwood | 4/10 | $62k | 40/100 |
| South Park | 4/10 | $108k | 35/100 |
| Clinton Park Tri Community | 4/10 | $109k | 35/100 |
| Pleasantville | 4/10 | $115k | 40/100 |
| East Houston | 4/10 | $116k | 40/100 |
| Harrisburg Manchester | 4/10 | $117k | 50/100 |
| Park Place | 4/10 | $118k | 50/100 |
| Frenchtown | 4/10 | $119k | 55/100 |
| Trinity-Houston Gardens | 4/10 | $120k | 40/100 |
| Denver Harbor/Port Houston | 4/10 | $121k | 50/100 |
| Kashmere Gardens | 4/10 | $122k | 45/100 |
| East Little York | 4/10 | $124k | 40/100 |
| Greenspoint | 4/10 | $126k | 35/100 |
| Settegast | 4/10 | $127k | 45/100 |
| Sunnyside | 4/10 | $128k | 45/100 |
Check crime data
We don’t grade neighborhoods on crime. Look up the streets you’re considering in Houston with the agency that patrols them:
- Houston (HPD) (crime data page)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer (agency-level reports)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Houston neighborhood has the best schools?
Tanglewood has the highest school rating in the Houston metro at 9/10, with a median home price of $1.6M. For buyers under $450k, Woodsons Reserve offers a 9/10 school rating at $437k.
What Houston neighborhoods have good schools under $450,000?
For buyers with a budget under $450,000, the best school ratings in Houston belong to Woodsons Reserve (9/10 schools, $437k), Oak Forest-Garden Oaks (9/10 schools, $398k), Energy Corridor (9/10 schools, $385k).