The Ultimate Guide to Houston Apartment Living: Neighborhoods, Culture, and Community
Houston, the fourth most-populous city in the United States and the most populous in the south, just can't seem to stop growing and expanding. People from all over the U.S. and even the world keep moving in to enjoy the megacity's booming economy, multiple educational opportunities, great schools, and more. My name is Lori, and as your apartmenthomeliving.com expert for Houston, I'd like to tell you more about the city and all it has to offer.
Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Houston
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,262 | $629 | $4,245 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,346 | $367 | $10,000+ |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,750 | $250 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,285 | $663 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,682 | $649 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $4,095 | $679 | $10,000+ |
Current Rental Pricing for Rental Homes and Condos in Houston
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,578 | $750 | $5,000 |
| 1 Bedroom Homes | $1,360 | $499 | $8,000 |
| 2 Bedroom Homes | $1,813 | $677 | $8,500 |
| 3 Bedroom Homes | $2,325 | $500 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Homes | $2,687 | $1,130 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Homes | $3,910 | $1,775 | $10,000+ |
| 6 Bedroom Homes | $5,445 | $1,699 | $10,000+ |
| 7 Bedroom Homes | $6,929 | $795 | $10,000+ |
Houston's Neighborhoods
If history and culture are important to you, nothing beats the neighborhoods in and around downtown Houston. There is always something happening, be it a cultural event, celebration, or museum program (the city has an entire Museum District plus a Theater District). Houston is home to two pro sports teams, the Astros and the Rockets, and catching a game is always great fun. The city's Medical District has some of the best hospitals in the nation, so you'll know you're in good hands if you need treatment. What's more, if your work or university is in the heart of town, living closely is a good idea because Houston's traffic is atrocious, especially at rush hours. At the same time, I feel many of the city's suburban areas don't get nearly as much attention as they should.
Kingwood is a personal favorite. I love the greenery and walking trails that make it easy to get out and about town. There are plenty of shopping centers, restaurants offering any cuisine you can imagine, and fun events for kids and adults of all ages. The local library offers free activities ranging from Coffee and Coloring to cooking classes to plant and puzzle swaps. Town Center Park hosts weekly farmer's markets and fun annual events such as the In a Pickle Picklefest and Christmas in the Park.
Travel a bit north from Kingwood and you get to New Caney. Unlike Kingwood, it's not a planned community. Houses are a mix of old houses on large plots of land, manufactured homes (they're all over the place in Houston and most suburbs), and modern suburban homes in newly-formed communities. Construction is all over the place and includes the building of new neighborhoods, stores, gas stations and even a new sports arena and career/technical education center for the local high school. Lake Houston Wilderness Park, the only park in town where you can camp out overnight, is right on your doorstep. The Valley Ranch Shopping Center has over a hundred stores and restaurants offering Mexican, Chinese, Italian, and many other cuisines. There is a bi-monthly farmer's market, an annual fair and rodeo, an annual Holiday to Remember ice skating rink, and plenty of other things to do. It doesn't have the same vibe as Houston, but it's great if you want relatively good traffic, good schools for your kids, and a relaxed vibe with easy access to Houston.
Travel west from Kingwood and you get to The Woodlands and Conroe. The Woodlands, a master planned community, is by far the more expensive of the two, but you get your money's worth living in a city with ponds, lakes, parks, restaurants, shopping malls, and one of the best school districts in the greater Houston area. It also has its own small medical district, which means you don't have to travel into Houston for specialized care. Conroe, which is far more affordable, also has plenty to offer. There is no lack of amenities, but the suburb is best known for its boating scene. Lake Conroe is a great place to fish, have a boat party, or bird watch. Our family vacationed there a few years ago and came away with great memories. It also has a great school district which is rated one of the top ten in the Houston area.
A Quick Look at Houston's History (and Weather)
Texas is the only state (besides Hawaii) that was once its own country and Texans are very proud of their state heritage. Houston, which was named after the then-nation's first president, Sam Houston, was founded near Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay in the 1830s and was the Capital of Texas for several years until Austin became the capital city in 1839. Its proximity to the gulf cemented its status as a major transportation hub early on. People and goods flooded into the new port city not long after it was built and haven't stopped since. The discovery of oil in the early 1900s further accelerated Houston's growth; even so, it was air conditioning that incentivized factories to move to this southern city. Without it, Houston is a literal sauna most summers as the heat and humidity combine to create weather conditions that make it difficult or even dangerous to spend lots of time outdoors from June to August.
Speaking of weather, Houston is prone to both hurricanes and flooding. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is still ranked as the deadliest natural disaster in the United States. However, unless you live next to the coast, your main worry won't be the wind but flooding. The reason Hurricane Harvey caused billions of dollars of damage in the greater Houston area wasn't because of its strong winds but because it dumped record amounts of water on the city, which then opened the reservoir floodgates to prevent the dams from bursting and flooding the downtown area. This isn't a one-time occurrence; other smaller storms have also caused flooding in multiple neighborhoods in and around the city. If a storm comes through, pay close attention to phone alerts or sign up to a Facebook group that posts notices of local happenings to get evacuation notices and avoid flooded streets. Keep a stock of food and emergency supplies in case you can't go out for a few days; Texas even has an annual emergency supplies sales tax holiday where you can buy these items tax-free. You'll also want to stock up on gas; when the power goes out, everyone is out in full force to buy gas for generators, but many gas stations aren't open since they don't have electricity.
Getting Around Houston
Houston has a great public transportation system with buses and metros crisscrossing multiple neighborhoods in town as well as the southwestern and southeastern suburbs. It's ideal for getting around downtown Houston as the congested traffic, one-way roads, and dearth of free parking make it challenging to get to and from the city's most popular districts and landmarks. However, the system extends only as far north as Kingwood and Humble. If you live further north from these suburbs, you'll be getting around by car.
If you drive into the Lone Star State and stop in a state welcome center, you'll likely see stickers advising you to "Drive Friendly, the Texas Way." Trust me, it's an oxymoron. Texans, including those who live in and around Houston, are aggressive drivers. Are you trying to turn onto a road and there's no stoplight? The cars on the road will most likely speed up rather than slow down to let you own. I personally prefer to wait a few minutes rather than risk an accident. You may be honked at. Don't take it personally. Also, be prepared for plenty of road construction. When the city is done building, widening, or fixing one road, it will move onto the next. Allow yourself plenty of time to get from one point to another if you know there is construction going on and again, tuning into a local Facebook page telling you what's happening in your suburb will help you avoid road closures, slowdowns, and crashes.
Houston Essentials
If iconic landmarks are your thing, then Houston's Space Center is a great place to visit. You can see exhibits related to past trips to the moon, including moon rocks and a space shuttle simulator. You'll also learn about plans for future trips to the moon and even Mars. The Theater District is the place to go to catch a show, while the Museum District is home to cultural exhibits of all types and from multiple nations. From the Asia Society to the Czech Center Museum, there's hardly a culture that isn't represented. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is another highlight with both permanent and seasonal exhibitions. Our family loved the Children's Museum with its hands-on exhibits, activities, and outdoor play area. The Houston Interactive Aquarium and Animal Preserve is also well-worth the trip; my kids loved the variety of sea creatures, touch pool, and train ride through a tunnel with large shark tanks. There's even a small fairground on-site with rides.
If you're looking for attractions off the beaten path, there's plenty of those too. Jesse Jones Park in Humble has a replica of an Akokisa-Ishak Indian Village if you want to get to know how Native Americans lived hundreds of years before settlers set foot in town. There is also a replica of a homestead from the 1800s that includes furniture and tools. Baytown Nature Center, a wildlife sanctuary that's home to hundreds of animal species, is especially ideal for bird watching as hundreds of bird species call the area home and even more pass through during peak migration seasons. The sanctuary also has walking trails, observation decks, fishing piers, and a large children's playground, but make sure you visit during cool, dry weather or the mosquitoes will literally eat you alive.
Houston's seasonal markets are also not to be missed. In a Pickle Picklefest in Kingwood offers up almost every type of pickle, jam, jelly, seasoning, and pickle-related product you can imagine. From dill-flavored candies and cheesecakes to pickled Brussels Sprouts to shirts proclaiming that you're a "Big Dill", you'll find it all here. Huffman's annual Fall Festival and Harvest Market is great for families; we went one year and, after paying $5 per child for a wristband, each of our kids got to play fun games with prizes, get a free animal balloon, go on a hayride, pet animals in a petting zoo, and do other fun activities. Plus, there was a community garage sale, pop-up market, and a plant sale.
Eating Out
No matter what type of food you like, you'll find it in or around Houston. It is, after all, the most diverse city in the United States. My oldest daughter loved Pho5 on Kirby Drive and Benihana on Louisiana Street. La Cabana in Humble's Deerbook Shopping Center has great Mexican food. However, if you want unique, genuine authenticity, go small. Nothing beats the Super Pollo food truck on the corner of Loop 494 and 1485 FM in New Caney. The Refresqueria in Rice Village near downtown Houston has authentic Mexican dishes and snacks you won't find in many chain restaurants. The Indian food at the weekly Kingwood Farmer's market is amazing. I'd also give the True Texas BBQ restaurant inside the Kingwood HEB high marks for its tasty, savory dishes.
The saying "Everything is bigger in Texas" doesn't just apply to the state's size and bravado. It also applies to millions of people who call this community home. People are friendly, outgoing, helpful, and kind. No matter what you enjoy doing, it's not hard to find a community of like-minded people who share the same hobby. There are plenty of job opportunities as businesses move into the area to serve its growing population. Educational opportunities abound with plenty of great universities in and around town. While summer is insanely hot and a freeze that would make northerners laugh will shut down our roads and international airports, everything Houston has to offer far outweighs its troubles and inconveniences.
