settle down

This Houston suburb declared the No. 1 place in Texas to retire

This Houston-area suburb is the best place to settle down long-term, according to a new study.

Courtesy photo

Locals who are enjoying the family environs of Cinco Ranch, La Centerra, or Grand Lakes may have picked the perfect long-term home: A new study ranks Katy as the best city to retire in Texas. The report, compiled by SmartAsset, cites Katy’s copious amounts of medical care (namely, doctors’ offices) and recreation centers as ideal for retirees.

The website and financial resource examined three key factors to generate a “best place to retire index”: income and sales taxes; the number of doctors’ offices, recreation centers, and retirement centers per 1,000 residents; and the size of the senior population. Four other Houston-area suburbs appear on SmartAsset’s top 10 places to settle down: Richmond (No. 6), Tomball (No. 7), Webster (No. 8), and Humble (No. 9).

Katy leads the way in Houston-area healthcare for retirees: Katy boasts 17.6 doctors’ offices per 1,000 people — compared with 7.3 in Richmond, 8.8 in Tomball, 13.3 in Webster, and 8.4 in Humble. In terms of entertainment (a key factor for aging retirees), Katy offers up 3.6 recreation centers per 1,000 people — compared with 2.0 in Richmond, 1.3 in Tomball, 1.2 in Webster, and 2.0 in Humble.

Ironically, seniors make up less than 12 percent of the population in Katy. Tomball has the most Houston-area seniors, coming in at 18 percent of the population. Statewide, Fredericksburg, the No. 5 place to retire in Texas, tops the seniors list at 30 percent of the overall population. The Dallas-Fort Worth suburb Granbury, the No. 2 place to retire, comes in just behind, with 29.7 percent of seniors in the population.

Woodway (just outside of Waco) and Livingston (which is north of Houston) round out the top five cities in Texas to retire. Both offer 1.5 rec centers per 1,000 residents, while Woodway offers the third most doctors’ offices on the list at 10.6. The lowest tax rate goes to No. 10 Burnet (located outside of Austin) at 14.9 percent.

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Heights charm

Spacious Heights home with modern touches hits market for $1.9 million

TK Images for Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

1039 Harvard Street is a custom home in the center of the Heights. It's listed at $1.995 million.

In the heart of the Houston Heights is 1039 Harvard Street, a 4,300-plus-square-foot home that must be seen to be properly appreciated. It is listed by David Atkins of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty.

Photo by TK Images for Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

1039 Harvard Street is a custom home in the center of the Heights. It's listed at $1.995 million.

The home instantly fits within its surroundings, with spacious living areas and modern amenities that will appeal to many homebuyers. 1039 Harvard Street blends function with form, offering several gathering spaces, four oversized bedrooms, spa-like baths, and a stunning backyard pool.

The spacious master bedroom is a private oasis, with a framed separation prior to entering the sleeping area. It creates a space to enjoy morning coffee or a mid-day read while overlooking the pool. The Hunter Douglas Vignette Modern Roman shades add to the room’s calming feel. Its adjoining bathroom is like stepping into a spa, with a deep Jacuzzi tub that sits within an open shower area. Built-in dressers line the wardrobe closet, which offers plenty of storage space and a vanity.

An upstairs TV lounge is perfect for kids’ movie nights or an adult gathering. Meanwhile, a center corridor is lined with built-in bookshelves and a tech closet from which to run a modern home.The east-facing bedroom has a window seat for lounging, and its bathroom offers a frameless shower enclosure and quartz counters. The front bedroom has its own bath, and the two middle bedrooms have a shared, ensuite Hollywood bath. On the top floor, a game room offers another place for entertaining.

The home’s kitchen features a waterfall island as its centerpiece, complete with Asko dishwasher and deep sink. There’s a gas fireplace in the living room, and the open floor plan allows for plenty of space and natural light.

Outdoors at 1039 Harvard Street is just as impressive as the inside. Patios offer space for outdoor dining and entertaining, while the in-ground Platinum Pool is a great way to cool off in Houston’s heat.

Located in the center of the Heights, 1039 is close to Harvard Elementary School, as well as the neighborhood’s many amenities. This is truly a home that is move-in ready, and will make its owners want to stay a while.

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