Are these safe neighborhoods? (Houston, Bellaire: apartment complexes, insurance, high crime)

[future-houstonian]

I know that "safe" is subjective, but I'm hoping that with several responses I can get a feel for the following neighborhoods. My husband and I are moving to Houston, and he'll be working downtown, so we want a neighborhood that's fairly close to there. The homes in these neighborhoods seem to be in our price range, but I want to know if they're safe (i.e., Will I feel safe at home by myself at night? Are there a lot of families? Will I feel comfortable walking my infant around the neighborhood in the stroller?)

I really appreciate any help with this! I'm going to contact a realtor, but they can sometimes be biased.

ARE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE?
Tanglewilde
Braesmont
Jaguar Estates
Sharpstown Country Club
Westmont
Briarmeadow
Maplewood
Briargrove
Westmoreland Farms


Thanks!!

[bluepencil]

I grew up just outside of Maplewood South (bounded by Bob White on the west, Willowbend on the south, Braeswood on the north, and Chimney Rock on the east) and I always got the impression that it was the most "normal" neighborhood I had been in, if that makes sense. The neighborhood is comprised almost entirely of well-kept single-family homes built in the 60s and 70s (3-5br ranch style, typically) with wood fences (no chain-link) and mature trees, and are occupied by families, both young and established (with some empty nesters thrown in for good measure).

I went to elementary school in the neighborhood (St. Thomas More, a Catholic school/church that teaches preschool through 6th grades), and knew many families from the school who lived in or around Maplewood. I never felt there was any cause for concern as far as safety goes, and though I don't live in Houston anymore, on my visits back it still looks/feels like it always had growing up.

Not far southwest of Maplewood is a hotspot of crime, though, but it doesn't seem to filter in at all. There are other decent neighborhoods that as much as I hate to say it, serve as a buffer between the overcrowded and destitute apartment complexes that line W. Bellfort and Fondren (my parents live in one of these neighborhoods, and I hardly ever felt unsafe there either...when I say "buffer" I guess I mean more geographically than anything else, since it distances Maplewood a bit more from the questionable area). Extending from the intersection of Bob White and W. Bellfort, the farther north and east you go, the nicer and more expensive the houses get (Maplewood is bordered on the east by Meyerland, which to some degree looks much like Maplewood, but is substantially more expensive).

Maplewood CIA

[modster]

Just keep in mind when you live closer in, you get good areas that can be adjacent to bad, so it is all a bit relative.

As for being comfortable with your safety:
Westmoreland Farms is part of Bellaire isn't it? I would say yes.
Briargrove is pretty pricey territory in a good area.
Briarmeadow is very nice too
Tanglewilde, yes, so long as you are not too close to the apartments on Ocee.
Westmont, Braesmont & Maplewood yes.
Probably the one with the highest possibility of issues might be Sharpstown C.C. estates, and even with that it will depend upon what section. There are plenty of people who live there and like it, but I would expect that one to be the one with most crime incidents. I do not know that to be fact however, it is nothing but an assumption so take it for what it is worth. you would have to check stats.

[Wysiwyg]

here's that map again Houston Crime Map which hopefully helps.

[5stones]

I grew up in Briargrove. It's very nice and safe.
The elementary school is very good. But I would not send my kids to Lee HS.
Briarmeadow is good.

Tanglewilde area is nice as is...
Bunker hill, Hunters creek as well as Piney point village.
Memorial is also nice

The whole area N of San Felipe and south of I-10 is all nice.
The area around the Galleria was nice in the past TH along post oak etc...

If you inside the loope the area around Memorial park is very nice and then there is always...River oaks!

Sharpstown would not be on my list if I was moving back. (I go smaller place in a nicer area...but that's me)

[seasponge]

I used to live in the Sharpstown Country Club area. HIGH HIGH crime, but it may or may not affect you. My neighbors were known MS 13 gang members so my house (corner lot) was always the target for either tagging or vandalism. My house was broken into 3 times in 5 years and my car was broken into 6 times a year. Not to mention the drive by shootings at the neighborhood. Beware!

My friend lives in Tanglewilde and she says she feels safe in her house, but after dark she doesn't go out. She says her insurance is pretty high because of the crime in the neighborhood. When she bought the house it came installed with burglar bars and a security alarm.

[future-houstonian]

Thank you so much! I am going to drive through some of these neighborhoods today to see the areas. I really appreciate your tips and input!

[Texas Mack]

Be advised that in Houston, areas that look clean and safe can still be a little dicey. Houston may not have zoning, but it has a lot of active subdivisions with fairly active housing authorities. While this is certainly a good thing, it may not always give a complete accounting of the area in general.

For example, in the Sharpstown area (an area that has had a reputation for being high crime for the last 20 or so years), the residential areas are actually decent to nice but there is an element still in play that might turn you off.

In any case, happy hunting!

[MommyNCharge]

Tanglewilde
There are a lot of singles and it bordered by buslines. I do not think that I would consider it safe.
Braesmont
Once again bordered by buslines and nearby areas of ill-repute but there are some very nice homes in the more expensive areas.
Jaguar Estates
Sharpstown Country Club
I tend to shy away from anything with the name Sharpstown it it.
Westmont
Briarmeadow
This is close to Briargrove, yes?
Maplewood
Unfamiliar
Briargrove
Not bad .......
Westmoreland Farms
I will look around and gather info.

[jfre81]

Sharpstown was the ideal of American living when it opened in the 1950s....city's over there, but we live over here, but we have a car and a freeway between here and there....oooh....

Things change fast.

Wherever you are, be aware and be smart.