wasting away

3,500-home community for 'active adults' approved for Galveston Bay tract

Residents of a Latitude Margaritaville community riding golf carts.

The parrothead ethos lives on at Latitude Margaritaville.

Photo courtesy of Minto Communities

Jimmy Buffett may be gone, but the Parrothead ethos of chilling on the water lives on. Minto Communities announced this week that they would be opening Latitude Margaritaville Galveston Bay, a 3,500-home active adult community aimed at residents 55 years and older. Opening of the sales center and model park is targeted for first quarter 2028. This will be the first Latitude Margaritaville community in Texas.

“This is an exciting milestone for Minto as we expand into Texas and introduce Latitude Margaritaville to the Greater Houston market,” said Minto Communities executive Dutch Neuweiler. “We appreciate the thoughtful engagement and support of Texas City officials throughout this process and share their vision for creating a community that will have a positive impact well beyond its boundaries. With its location on Galveston Bay and access to everything the surrounding area has to offer, we believe this is an exceptional setting those interested in the iconic lifestyle our communities provide.”

The Latitude Margaritaville brand of communities launched in 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida as part of the late singer's massive brand corporation dedicated to easy living, music, beaches, and food. Aimed at retired adults, they offer access to polls, lounges, theaters, spas, and work centers on top of prioritizing ocean views from the homes.

There should be no shortage of ways to see the water in the Galveston Bay community. The 1,318-acre property is located between State Highways 3 and 146, north of the Emmett F. Lowry Expressway and extending toward Moses Bayou. Texas City Commission has approved the Planned Unit Development (PUD) and Development Agreement (DA).

“Margaritaville has a strong commitment to Texas, and Galveston Bay is a perfect place to bring the Latitude Margaritaville lifestyle to life,” said Jim Wiseman, president of development at Margaritaville. “There’s something special about life along the Gulf — the water, the energy, the music, and that unmistakable sense that you’re never too far from a good time. Together with Minto and Texas City, we’re creating more than a community. We’re creating a place where neighbors become friends, every day feels a little more like vacation, and the Margaritaville state of mind comes naturally. We very much appreciate the positive vote and look forward to the road ahead.”

Minto Communities says the development will create 1,742 permanent jobs and generate $68.8 million in annual labor income in Galveston County. No pricing information has been provided yet, but prospective residents can find more information at LatitudeMargaritaville.com.

income news

This affluent Houston neighbor is America's 2nd wealthiest suburb

City of West University Place, TX - City Government / Facebook

West University Place is the fourth best suburb for house renters in Texas.

West University Place has long been considered Houston's richest suburb, and a new study has revealed this affluent enclave has climbed to the top to become the second wealthiest in America.

The report from GoBankingRates, called "America’s Wealthiest Suburbs Today Compared to 10 Years Ago," tracked the average household income across the nation's 50 wealthiest suburbs from 2014 to 2024. Cities had to have at least 5,000 households and be part of a large metro area to qualify. Income data was sourced from the Census Bureau.

In the new report, West University Place moved up one spot to become the second richest American suburb after ranking third for two consecutive years. Its current ranking is also two spots higher than where it ranked in 2016, at No. 4 nationwide.

The findings also confirm that its residents have certainly become richer over time. According to Census Bureau data, West U. households made $294,723 in average income 2014, which has since surged to $439,594 in 2024.

One more Houston neighbor, Bellaire, also appears among the 50 wealthiest American suburbs. Bellaire now ranks 18th, up from No. 23 last year. Bellaire households made $335,492 on average as of 2024, up from $226,295 in 2014.

Of course, calling either city a "suburb" is sort of absurd, as the late Ken Hoffman hilariously argued in a 2024 column. "A little research or even a phone call would have told them that neither West U nor Bellaire is a suburb. Both are fully independent cities that are completely surrounded by Houston on all sides," Hoffman wrote.

Other affluent suburbs in Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth neighbors University Park, Southlake, and Colleyville are also named among the top 50 wealthiest American suburbs for 2026.

University Park maintains its elite status as the sixth wealthiest suburb in America for the third year in a row. Households made $407,253 on average in total annual income in 2024, up from $254,422 in 2014.

Southlake is the country's eighth wealthiest suburb for 2026, up from No. 16 in 2016. Average household income in this bustling city has grown from $232,034 in 2014 to $384,530 as of 2024, for a growth rate of about 66 percent.

Colleyville, meanwhile, has dropped down the list of the wealthiest suburbs over the last 10 years. It currently ranks 46th but previously ranked 28th in 2016. Average household income in this particular DFW city has increased 35 percent, from $205,828 to $277,720 in 2024.

The top 10 wealthiest suburbs in America in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Scarsdale, New York
No. 2 – West University Place, Texas
No. 3 – Rye, New York
No. 4 – Los Altos, California
No. 5 – Paradise Valley, Arizona
No. 6 – University Park, Texas
No. 7 – Alamo, California
No. 8 – Southlake, Texas
No. 9 – McLean, Virginia
No. 10 – Orinda, California

income gobankingrates.com suburbs houston