Sugarland, Pearland, Katy, where should I live in Houston? (Arlington: best neighborhoods, condo)

[bibio7]

Okay city-data friends, I appreciate all contributions you guys provide day-in, day-out. I've read quite a bit on best places to live for African Americans and I've narrowed my option down to Houston, TX. I'm moving this summer, and I'm trying to figure out which are the best neighborhoods.

I'm in my 30s, African American female. I have a six year old who would be going to school. I make very good income and have no problems relocating with my job! So, work is not an issue. I am relocating from Arlington, Virginia, where everything is crazy expensive and my nice lil' condo is on the market for $750k.

So, I've heard Pearland and Sugarland are great neighborhoods. Is this true? are there any others?

I want a place that's culturally and racially mixed, has its share of educated professionals (middle/upper class people), has good schools, young 30s & 40s folks, and diverse. I also want a place with a low crime rate. Please share any insight you may have. Thank you.

[Tex?Il?]

You might get better responses in the Houston forum.

[bibio7]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

You might get better responses in the Houston forum.

Oh, thank you. I have posted in that forum.

[Liljo22]

Where is your job going to be located. That will make most of the difference. Any suburb in Houston is going to be racial and culturally mixed. All three have schools and crime in the same levels. Budget should not be a problem since you can get a nice size house for a lot less than half the price of your condo.

[milrtime83]

They are all nice areas. I would pick the one that is closest to where you will be working and start your search there. Add the Woodlands to your list for a northern option.

[bibio7]

Originally Posted by Liljo22

Where is your job going to be located. That will make most of the difference. Any suburb in Houston is going to be racial and culturally mixed. All three have schools and crime in the same levels. Budget should not be a problem since you can get a nice size house for a lot less than half the price of your condo.

Thanks Liljo22 . . . I will be working from home majority of the time, and traveling back to the DC area once a month.

[bibio7]

Originally Posted by milrtime83

They are all nice areas. I would pick the one that is closest to where you will be working and start your search there. Add the Woodlands to your list for a northern option.

Will do . . . I haven't heard anything about Woodlands yet, but will definitely add it to my research list. Thanks.

[TJfromATL]

Im having the same concern, sista. Except Im single.

[City Love]

Originally Posted by bibio7

Thanks Liljo22 . . . I will be working from home majority of the time, and traveling back to the DC area once a month.

I think another important question is how much you want to spend on a home here in Houston? Do you want to spend $750k here as well? If so, then you might reconsider your location and find a few areas where the land value is higher than in the suburbs. Areas like Upper Kirby, Galleria, or Memorial. $750k will buy you a very large home in the suburbs, maybe too large. I'm reading your post as only being a family of 2.

Now, if you want to slash your budget in half, then you would still get a large home in the suburbs like Pearland/Sugarland but you wouldn't have an excessively large home. Other suburbs to consider are Clear Lake, The Woodlands, and Katy.

You might also consider proximity to museums, good restaurants, parks, etc. Are these important?

[JRjohnryan]

I grew up in Sugar Land and it is ranked in the top 100 places to raise a family in America. Little to no crime execpt for the fact that drugs are everywhere, but no gangs, no homicides, robberies things of that nature. Great schools ecpecially Clements High School, but I must say make your kid chose the right friends the school it is full or rich spoiled kids snd because of all the money thier parents give them about 80-90% of the school has or is on marijuana, and alcohol...but they are all REALLY smart and the school is ranked in the top 10 public and private in all of Greater Houston. It is very culturaly diverse, but about 45% are Indian, Mid Eastern or East Asian with another 40% being white about 8% black and 7% hispanic so it's a very diffrent experience. Homes are pricey for Houston a 3000 sq ft. is about 300k, everyone is very friendly and it is safe to be out at any time of the day, it is loaded with police. In the neighboorhood of Sweetwater thier are a bunch of local sports cleberties who live in thier including T-MAC, VInce Carter, Shaq, Brad Miller, Hunter Pence, and others. Best neighboorhood would be Avalon look in thier and First Colony I would stay out of Dulles and "old Sugar Land" not that bad of areas but no good. The woodlands is almost identical just in the Northern Part of Houston, but more rich from my experience. I have never been in the Pearland area sorry.