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Kingly Houston community is the No. 2 friendliest American neighborhood

Living in Kingswood makes for a friendly experience for families.

Kings Harbor/Facebook

Homebuyers and families yearn for living in tight-knit communities with neighbors that will look out for each other, and one Houston-area neighborhood is going above and beyond to fulfill that role: the friendly neighborhood of Kingwood.

Kingwood's time in the spotlight comes after a new report from home improvement services website All Star Home named it the No. 2 most friendly American neighborhood. According to the findings, 18.75 percent of reviews for Kingwood-based businesses were described as "friendly."

Kingwood is known for its heavily forested land, numerous parks, and its family-friendly attractions, truly living up to its “Livable Forest” nickname. The neighborhood is so large, spanning over 14,000 acres, that it's split up further into smaller "villages."

Kingwood's popularity has risen in recent years, as the area was deemed the No. 1 most sought-after neighborhood in Houston in 2023.

All Star Home also took a deep dive into the friendliest well-known businesses and retailers across the U.S. Several of the friendliest big-box stores in the report have a presence in Kingwood, including The UPS Store, Great Clips, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Aldi, and more.

"Some trends emerged when [digging] into data for ten business types: coffee shops, dry cleaners, and pharmacies ruled the top 10 friendliest list," the report said. "On the other hand, banks barely made it, and post offices got left off the list entirely."

Elsewhere in the top 50 are Houston's Memorial neighborhood (No. 44) and the suburb of Alief (No. 45). 12.42 percent of reviews for Memorial businesses were described of as "friendly," compared to 12.37 percent in Alief.

Here's how other Houston-area neighborhoods stacked up in the report:

No. 59 – Briarforest Area
No. 67 – Briarforest Area
No. 89 – Clear Lake
No. 109 – Lake Houston
No. 112 – Washington Avenue Coalition - Memorial Park
No. 194 – Greater Uptown

The only neighborhood to outperform Kingwood's friendliness to take the No. 1 spot was the Magnolia neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Nearly 20 percent of reviews for businesses in Magnolia were described of as "friendly."

Two other Texas neighborhoods made it into the top 10 friendliest American 'hoods, residing in North Texas: South Boulevard-Park Row Historic District in Dallas (No. 5) and Fort Worth's South Hills neighborhood (No. 10).

The top 10 friendliest American neighborhoods are:

No. 1 – Magnolia in Seattle, Washington
No. 2 – Kingwood, Texas
No. 3 – Highland in Saint Paul, Minnesota
No. 4 – Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, California
No. 5 – South Boulevard-Park Row Historic District in Dallas, Texas
No. 6 – Casas Adobes in Tuscon, Arizona
No. 7 – Mount Tabor in Portland, Oregon
No. 8 – Catalina Foothills in Tuscon, Arizona
No. 9 – Rancho Penasquitos in San Diego, California
No. 10 – South Hills in Fort Worth, Texas

The study determined its rankings based on the number of positive Google reviews for businesses in 200 of the most-viewed city neighborhoods on Zillow in 2022.

The report can be found on allstarhome.com.

houston neighborhoods suburbs reports housing

A Montrose jewel box

Charming Montrose townhouse with 2-story atrium hits the market

Photo by Sonya Sofrankpo for Sotheby’s International Realty

1507 Harold Street is on the market for $950,000.

Montrose has long been Houston’s neighborhood for the eclectic, a place where cute bungalows, mom-and-pop shops, and trendy bars and restaurants sit side-by-side. The neighborhood is a microcosm of the city itself: diverse, developing, beloved.

And even as the neighborhood has steadily gentrified, echoes of its past remain. One of those is now for sale. 1507 Harold Street, a remodeled jewel box of a space, is on the market for $950,000 and represented by Tracey Smith of Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty.

The 1950s townhome has fabulous natural light, balconies, a courtyard filled with native plants, and a funky charm that evokes the neighborhood’s past and present.

Painted tile floors and long hallways with splendid light set the tone for this home. They give way to an open, airy arrangement, showing off 1507 Harold’s nearly 3,000 square feet. The three-bedroom, two-bath home is immediately centered in its neighborhood, but also a retreat from the bustling city around it.

If the devil is in the details, 1507 Harold has plenty of them. Think painted clay tiles on the first floor and solid red oak hardwood on the second floor. Add to that custom Pedini Italian kitchen cabinets, Neolith countertops, and a Quemere custom backsplash in the kitchen. See also the epoxied garage floor with glass garage door.

Floor-to-ceiling windows not only let in the natural light, they give 1507 Harold the feeling of being surrounded by nature. That feeling is enhanced by the home's two, second-floor balconies. One of them, off the primary bedroom, overlooks the cloistered courtyard filled with native plants, park bench, and natural seating. The other faces the neighborhood. A two-story atrium provides space for meditation, contemplation, and casual gathering.

The dining room has a dry bar that’s perfect for storage and an Aobosi dual-temperature wine refrigerator. The primary bedroom has built-in bookcases and drawers, and an ensuite bath with soaking tub and shower. Sliding doors lead to the balcony.

The garden’s irrigation system waters plants daily, keeping this green space well-tended.South Texas cactus and olive trees welcome homeowners and visitors at the front entrance.

The home's welcoming vibe has to be seen to be believed. It’s rarely been on the market, and the odds are high that its next owners will keep it for a very long time. It’s just that kind of place.

Photo by Sonya Sofrankpo for Sotheby’s International Realty

1507 Harold Street is on the market for $950,000.

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