Hot Hot 'Hoods

These 2 exclusive Houston neighborhoods rank among America's best for 2018

Memorial home exterior swing real estate Houston best neighborhood

Memorial is among the 20 best neighborhoods in America.

Photo courtesy of HAR

Where are the best places to live in Houston? Real estate review site Niche has revealed the Best Neighborhoods to Live in America, and two popular Houston 'hoods appear in the top 20.

Niche combined user rankings with data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FBI for the list. In order to rank the top neighborhoods, Niche considered areas located within a city and with a population of at least 1,000. The site then ranked the neighborhoods using 15 different categories, each was weighted and given an individual grade.

Some of the categories included:

Higher education (number of citizens with advanced degrees)
Cost of living
Housing costs
Reputation of nearby public schools
Diversity
Overall composite number (Niche survey responses scored on a 1-5 scale)
Crime and safety
Walkability

The site also examined lifestyle factors such as outdoor activities, nightlife, and average commute times.

Coming in at No. 10 in the U.S. is Houston's beloved Memorial neighborhood. It boasts an A-plus rating in three categories: public schools, great for families, and health and fitness. Memorial scores an A grade for housing, nightlife, and diversity, but receives a C (its lowest) for crime and safety. The median home value, according to Niche, is $505,738.

The other Houston 'hood to make the top 50 is University Place, in the 20th spot. The sought-after neighborhood boasts a much higher median home value — $696,231. In addition to being great for families, Niche says it offers great nightlife options and an easy commute.

In general, Texas fared quite well among the best neighborhoods in the U.S., making up 12 of the top 50. Dallas' Preston Highlands joins Memorial in top 10, coming in at No. 8. Other hot Dallas areas were Moss Farm-Forest Meadow (No. 14); Campbell Green (No. 28); and Lakeview Heights (No. 30).

Austin has the most Texas neighborhoods in the top 50: Rosedale (No. 21); Allandale (No. 23); Old West Austin (No. 32); downtown Austin (No. 39); Windsor Road (No. 40); and Old Enfield (No. 42).

Seaside Living and More

Shuttered Corpus Christi Schlitterbahn will become $800M seaside community

Rendering courtesy of Whitecap

The former site of Schlitterbahn's Corpus Christi location is being transformed into Whitecap, an $800 million master-planned community.

The site that once housed Schlitterbahn's short-lived Corpus Christi location is being transformed into Whitecap, an $800 million master-planned community with waterfront homes, a shopping and entertainment district, and a marina designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes.

Rendering courtesy of Whitecap

The former site of Schlitterbahn's Corpus Christi location is being transformed into Whitecap, an $800 million master-planned community.

The project by Ashlar Development LLC and partner Diamond Beach Holdings LLC is Corpus Christi’s first master-planned coastal community and is expected to include more than 600 residences.

Located less than four hours from Houston and about 30 minutes from Corpus Christi International Airport, the development is aimed at buyers looking for primary homes, vacation properties, and investment opportunities.

Schlitterbahn opened its Padre Island location in 2016 with hopes of bringing its popular waterpark brand to the coast. But financial troubles and leadership disputes complicated the project early on. After the park closed in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, it never reopened, and the site was demolished in 2021.

Now, the former waterpark site is being redeveloped into a waterfront residential community.

"The owners saw extraordinary potential in this uniquely positioned property,” Terence Johnson, executive vice president of Ashlar Development, tells CultureMap. “By transforming a former golf course and water park into Whitecap, they've created a luxury canal community that balances exceptional waterfront living with the preservation of valuable coastal habitat for migratory birds and wildlife.”

The first phase of homesite sales is now underway. Buyers can choose from custom and semi-custom home options featuring a contemporary coastal aesthetic with materials such as concrete and glass.

Located just minutes from Whitecap Beach, the community sits along five miles of navigable canals, with most homesites offering water views, direct canal access, and backyard docks.

A pool and fitness center are already completed, with future plans including a café, event space, sports courts, a dog park, and a marina district with shopping, dining, entertainment, a yacht club, and dry boat storage.

A 30-acre nature preserve will sit at the center of the development, providing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.