Crime in Southwest Houston? (Sugar Land, Pearland: apartments, homes, neighborhoods)

[Filter]

Hello All,

I am likely moving to Houston next year for a job and am currently looking at places to live with my family (2 infants). People keep talking about how crime has risen in "southwest Houston," but I can't figure out what "southwest," means. I will be working in the medical center which appears to be in southwest Houston to me. I'd like to live "in the loop," mostly because I don't believe I am quite ready for the suburban life yet but also because I am not interested in long commutes (as I spend enough time at work as it is). That being said, I want to ensure the safety of my family above all else.

So: would somebody please let me know where this crime ridded "southwest," is?

Thanks to everybody.

[AK123]

Mostly along Hwy 59 neighborhoods, just inside of Beltway 8/ Sam Houston Tollway.

If you're inside of the 610 Loop, you should be fine.

[Redrover]

Not knowing what your income level will be it is hard to know what to suggest to you. The best thing to do is contact a realtor when the move becomes imminent and give him/her your search parameters. If money is no object (hah!) you couldn't do better than the West University area for community and convenience to the Med Center. You might also like the Heights which also has a real small town kind of atmosphere and is just north of downtown. Pearland is a town I also recommend to people working in the Med Center. Check out some realty web sites and see what homes in those areas will cost you. Good luck.

[modster]

The worst crime is in the apartments along Fondren, The Gulfton area or along Club Creek St. The triangle formed by 59, Bissonnet & Beltway 8 is another crime hot spot.

Houston's lack of zoning provides a lot of "block by block adventures" where you have good areas immediately adjacent to bad. For example, the city of Bellaire, which is very expensive and sought after, pretty much borders Gulfton. South of Bellaire is Meyerland, which is also going to run you $250,000 for a fixer upper on up to over a million for a new faux-tuscany villa. There are some good neighborhoods inside the loop along Braeswood that are close to the med center, Ayrshire, Braeswood Place, Knollwood Village, Linkwood, Woodside & Woodshire. These usually start in the low to mid $200's for ranch style homes that need work. Willowbend & Westbury have become havens for those wanting close in but needing less than $200k. Westbury is better in its northern and eastern sections, the farther south you go,... the farther south it goes.

North of the medical center the areas are pretty expensive by Houston standards, West University Place, Southgate, Southampton, etc. take at least $400k to even look. In fact I doubt you could even get anything in Southampton for that.

[etexbill]

modster is right. Houston has no zoning laws, you can build a factory next to a mansion if you can afford the lot. Makes for an interesting mix.

[law]

What about Sugar Land, isn't it Southwest of Houston? How safe is it?

[raymondm]

Fondren is a street you want to stay away from, along with hillcroft, in houston is kinda tricky because a neighborhood or apt complex may look nice on the outside but have the most gangs and crimes on the inside.