77060 -- job zip -- where to live (Houston, The Woodlands: rental, crime)

[foo_bar]

hi we are moving to the zip code 77060 fairly quickly. I have 1 kindergarten kid. What are good school districts around that area that we should look to rent in. Also we need absolutely safe affluent neighborhoods, suggestions?

[Mr. Football]

Are you married to the idea of living in 77060?

You may want to consider a nearby zip with safer, better schools and more affluent neighborhoods.

[foo_bar]

job is moving to that zip code, i meant nearby areas, any ideas. I don't want to commute more than 20 - 30 minutes.

[Mr. Football]

I'm assuming you'll be working in the Greenspoint area?

Look a couple of miles further North. I would recommend the Klein School District if you want the best nearby district and you will be within your target commute time. Even further North is The Woodlands which also has very good schools. Kingwood is also within an easy drive of Greenspoint. Each have affluent neighborhoods and good schools.

[foo_bar]

Thanks Mate! Will try to look in those two first.

[dcg123]

I agree with the previous post. I would recommend Woodlands or the west side of 45 starting at 1960 going north. If you need any lists of properties feel free to contact me. I can e-mail them to you. You will need to contact the agents directly though.....I specialize in purchases. Usually that approach(contacting agents directly), works to your advantage in a rental transaction seeing that a agent will be more apt to work for you if there's not another agent involved in the rental transaction.

[foo_bar]

i was wrong on the zip, i am supposed to be in 77002 zip (multiple offices). Sorry about that. Hopefully this information will be useful for people looking to live in 77060.

[modster]

77002 is downtown. Please keep in mind you are moving to the 4th largest city in the United States, not Mayberry, so "absolutely safe" simply does not exist. Not inside the loop or in suburbia. I'm not saying you are taking your life in your hands or anything like that, but you have to be realistic, be on your toes and take common sense precautions regardless of how nice a section of town is. Some areas, of course, are going to be more prone to crime than others.

The more upscale places include of course River Oaks, (Not sure what they rent for but purchasing with a price tag that is not 7-digits leaves you with very limited choices), West University Place, Southside Place & Bellaire, which are all incorporated villages with their own police departments. Parts of the museum district such as Southampton, Boulevard Oaks, Chevy Chase, Edgemont & Southgate. Zip codes for River Oaks is 77019, Much of the museum district is in parts of 77005 or the southern portion of 77006. Not sure about Bellaire.

[foo_bar]

thanks for the information. of course having lived in NYC for the past 7 years i do realize there is nothing like absolutely safe. We are a family of 4 with 1 year old and 5 year old. Need an area that is well suited to raise young kids. Our rent constraints are around $1500. We will need a 3 bedroom place. Because of long work hours i do not want to have a commute longer than 30 minutes. Any more suggestions? sugerland? Is the fast and reliable public transport from the burbs?

[modster]

Public transportation isn't all that great in Houston. Sugarland is a bit of a commute. Meyerland area is good. Parkwest & the northern sections of Westbury that are zoned to Parker elementary are good, but Anderson elementary is not as desirable. That area tends to have the most livable combination of shorter commute, reasonable price, but still enough suburban aspects for families. Poe elementary in the museum district is also got a good reputation. there are some other good areas that are family friendly close in, but the schools are not so hot. There is a park on Heights Blvd chocked full of famillies every morning. there are plenty of families in that area although it does have a more urban feel. (urban for Houston, not at all urban probably to someone coming from NYC) Garden Oaks, Timbergrove & Lazybrook are similiar. Good areas but I am not so sure about the schools.