If Houston-area residents are looking for the perfect new place to buy a home and raise a family, they should steer their interest toward Bellaire. The southwest Houston suburb, impressively, has been named the No. 12 most family-friendly city in the U.S. by real estate marketplace Opendoor.

Opendoor's second annual "Family-Friendly Cities" list focuses on local communities that offer plenty of recreational outdoor activities that are suitable for families of any age. Bellaire was the only Houston-area city to make the new list and the second Texas city to make the list after Watauga (No. 5), near Fort Worth.

Cities were identified using the average number of family-friendly activity tags found on OpenStreetMap that are used for addresses in a city where the marketplace operates. Factors that were considered include cities with community centers, gardens, museums, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, and more.

For those new to the city or unfamiliar, Bellaire – split in half across I-610 below where it meets I-69, bordered by Southside Place and West University Place to the east – has plenty of family-friendly attractions.

There are 14 different parks around Bellaire, including the popular five-acre Evelyn Park, with its butterfly wall, art lawn, wildflower hill, walking trails, wide open spaces, and two pavillions.

The Evelyn's Park Conservancy says the park is the perfect place to relax with family and enjoy the beauty of nature.

"With its beautifully designed spaces and engaging programming, the new park appeals to audiences of all ages and interests — it is at once a quiet refuge and a flourishing place for community, a fresh destination and a perennial part of our city’s history," the site says.

But its Paseo Park (also on Bellaire Boulevard, but west of I-610) which hosts the Bellaire Arts and Crafts Festival, an annual family-friendly festival that has been showcasing local artwork since 1972. The upcoming festival will take place on November 11, 2023.

In addition, Bellaire residents can make use of a thriving public library, visit the city's 9/11 Memorial, Nature Discovery Center, The "Officer Lucy Dog Park" within Lafayette Park, the Bellaire Town Square Family Aquatic Center, and much more. The city is also adjacent to some major Houston attractions like NRG Stadium, the Houston Zoo, Memorial Park, and The Galleria.

According to recent reports, the average home price in Bellaire is a whopping $1,005,759 – significantly more than the average home value in Houston proper, $264,789. It's become an attractive place for renovated shopping centers and coveted for its "community vibes" in recent years.

Opendoor's 15 best family friendly cities in 2023 are:

• No. 1 – Somerville, Massachusetts
• No. 2 – Berkeley, California
• No. 3 – Cliffside Park, New Jersey
• No. 4 – Arlington, Virginia
• No. 5 – Watauga, Texas
• No. 6 – Chandler, Arizona
• No. 7 – Denver, Colorado
• No. 8 – Portland, Oregon
• No. 9 – Valley Stream, New York
• No. 10 – Garden Grove, California
• No. 11 – Coral Gables, Florida
• No. 12 – Bellaire, Texas
• No. 13 – Ann Arbor, Michigan
• No. 14 – Mission, Kansas
• No. 15 – Avondale Estates, Georgia