Hot Hot 'Hoods
These 2 exclusive Houston neighborhoods rank among America's best for 2018
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).
