Houston Neighborhoods 

When you start comparing Houston neighborhoods, you want facts that help you picture daily life—not real-estate jargon. The four areas below give families a mix of top-rated schools, green space, and a manageable drive into downtown, so you can decide which lifestyle feels right. 

How This Shortlist Was Built 

You’ll see two data points for each neighborhood: 

  1. School-district grade from Niche (niche.com). 
  1. Walkability score from walkscore.com. 

Greater Heights (Inside the Loop) 

  • Schools: Houston ISD earns an overall B according to niche.com, with sought-after magnets like DeBakey High. 
  • Walkability: A solid 73 Walk Score keeps coffee runs stroller-friendly according to walkscore.com. 

Why you’ll like it: You get historic bungalows, pocket parks, and weekend bike-trail access without surrendering your city nightlife. 

Cypress (Northwest Suburb) 

  • Schools: Cypress-Fairbanks ISD posts a 4.13/5 rating and ranks top-50 statewide according to niche.com.
  • Commute Feel: A 35- to 40-mile shot downtown via US-290.

Why you’ll like it: Master-planned communities bundle lakes, trails, and on-site elementary schools—so weekends feel like vacation without leaving home. 

Tomball (North of Cypress) 

  • Schools: Tomball ISD is #1 in Harris County with an A grade according to niche.com. 
  • Vibe: Classic town square, farmers’ markets, and quick access to the 249 Tollway. 

Why you’ll like it: Small-town charm plus a booming tech-corridor job base—great for remote workers who still crave community. 

Richmond (Fort Bend County) 

  • Schools: Parts of Richmond feed into highly rated Katy and Lamar CISDs (both A-range districts according toniche.com. 
  • Lifestyle: Riverfront parks, antique shops, and the brand-new Grand Parkway extension trimming commute times. 

Why you’ll like it: You trade freeway noise for Brazos-River sunsets while staying 35 miles from the Energy Corridor. 

Thinking About Hockley? 

If acreage and future rail access matter most, Hockley’s wide-open spaces just north-west of Cypress deserve a test drive. 

Final Checklist Before You Decide 

Task Why It Matters 
Compare total property-tax rates (city + county + school) for each ZIP Bills can vary by 1 % of value year-to-year 
Drive your commute at rush hour Houston freeways feel different at 7 a.m. than on Zillow maps
Walk the nearest school campus Culture counts as much as test scores
Map green-space access Pocket parks and trails keep kids active without long car rides

Ready to tour these Houston Neighborhoods in person? Explore family-focused floor plans—from Richmond riverfront to Cypress master-plans—at Taylor Morrison’s Houston communities and find the place that feels like home: https://www.taylormorrison.com/tx/houston. 

Blog is intended for general informational purposes only and not as an exhaustive comparison of all factors applicable to your personal financial situation.  Data used was derived from third-party sources and deemed reliable as of the date obtained, but not guaranteed, offered as investment or tax advice, or independently verified by Taylor Morrison; all information remains subject to change outside of Taylor Morrison’s control.  Images do not reflect a racial, ethnic, age or familial status preference. All registered and unregistered marks of third parties used for illustrative purposes only are the exclusive property of the respective owners. ©January 2026, Taylor Morrison, Inc.  

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