Recommendation needed: Museum Park vs Rice Military vs West U (Tyler: crime, townhomes)

[TylerJ1288]

We are looking to purchase a townhome in one of the three below areas.... budget up to $525k. Have one infant child and wife is stay at home.

Just wanting general recommendations on which area would be best for a young family.

Museum Park -- this is where we are leaning now. Within walking distance to Children's Museum, Hermann Park and lots of things. Downside seems to potentially be safety.

Rice Military -- close to Memorial Park and lots of other things. Not sure if great for families though.

West U -- not a lot of townhome inventory here.


Would love to get recommendations, especially for Museum Park and Rice Military

[westsidewolf1989]

There's quiet areas in both Museum Park and Rice Military, but would go with Rice Military for overall safety. West of Main Street and Montrose Blvd is generally safer in the Museum District Area (but this is technically Boulevard Oaks / Southampton), but there are definitely some nice and some not-so-nice areas on Main Street and heading east to Almeda. Rice Military is okay the further you are from Washington Ave and its bar scene. Personally, I'd recommend the Heights over either of these areas.

[travelguy_73]

Not sure if you are planning to stay there for elementary school, but if so, there are some great and not-so-great public options, so keep that in mind as well.

[houston-nomad]

I think it depends on your interests and work place. I like all those areas. Long term, Rice Military might be more central for public and private school choices (many of which tend to be west-ish). But Museum district is great for access to Hermann Park, which I prefer over Memorial Park, and of course to all the museums, zoo, and Rice University. I do like Buffalo Bayou park, though, and Rice Military is closer to there. I suppose if shopping and errands are a priority then West U; West U also has the public schools, plus the pools/rec center etc, nice as your kid gets older.

So just figure out which things are the most important to you.

[TylerJ1288]

I will be working within 15 minutes of all of those places.

Thanks for the information. Have defeinitely been looking at Museum Park east of Main, south of Rosedale and west of Almeda

[turf3]

Is "Museum Park" what we used to call "Montrose"?

[TylerJ1288]

No, it is the area immediately north of Hermann park. Main St on the west, 59 on the North, Almeda on the East

[museumdad]

Originally Posted by TylerJ1288

No, it is the area immediately north of Hermann park. Main St on the west, 59 on the North, Almeda on the East

I'd call this an up & coming area, with caveats. A big one is to check elementary school zone--the zone map looks like a gerrymandered congressional area. This is not an area full of families, but you won't be the only ones. It's an incredibly convenient location, and if you stay away from the highway underpass & night clubs, crime really isn't an issue. Another big plus: this area does not flood.

[dkag]

Stay in West U. You won't have to move once your kid is school aged. You can drive to Children's Museum from there in less than 10 mins. Your wife can take walks with a stroller. And it's just cleaner and safer. Rice Military is just too crammed, no sidewalks ugly town homes... Museum park has safety issues. You'll get homeless people pissing on your lawn, your packages will get stolen, you'll hear gun shots. Please. I know cause I see those kind of posts on Nextdoor from people in Museum Prk all the time.

[kwr]

Rice Military is easily the most central located. It borders the Heights and is 10-15 mins. or less from Downtown, Mid-town, Montrose and the Galleria. Short driving distance to I-10 and I-45. There are a variety of townhomes (and single family homes) with some located in gated communities; though, your budget is on the lower end for the nicer options.

I see families with small children all the time. Another option is Camp Washington which is even closer to Memorial Park. It feels slightly more suburban than RM.