Houston Inner Loop neighborhoods vs Sugarland (Sugar Land, Bellaire: hotel, house, best schools)

[fitbikes07]

Hello, I am looking for opinions on relocating to the Houston area. I have been down there for work a few times per year for the past 6 yrs, but have mostly just been either downtown or in the galleria. I am looking for neighborhood suggestions. So far, it looks like my best bets would be West U, the heights, or Bellaire for inner loop areas and sugar land for outside the loop.. here is some info:

1) the job is on greenway plaza near the double tree hotel. i would be willing to have a 30min commute and will likely work 630-3
2) i have 2 kids, 3.5 and 6 months.. schools are important and would prefer to send them to public schools.
3) would like to be able to walk to do things.. even if it is something small like going to a restaurant or ice cream shop
4) would really like a pool and not just a small modern looking spa pool like some of the ones in montrose - it make the move more attractive to my wife
5) 4+ bedrooms would be preferred.
6) my budget is anywhere up to about 1.2m for the right house

clements HS seems like it does the best on the SATs and I usually like to use that as a metric for school performance.. anything i am missing here?

thanks

[Meyerland]

With your budget I would live in Houston. West U or the neighborhoods close to River Oaks (Afton oaks is one) are great for walkability. Bellaire and south side Place are great too.

[Failed Engineer]

Yup, stick to Houston for sure. Southside Place would be a good place for you with really young children.

[ilikeme]

I would go with Sugar Land. You will set more house and yard for your money out there. Schools are also better. Clements is one of the best in the US.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by fitbikes07

Hello, I am looking for opinions on relocating to the Houston area. I have been down there for work a few times per year for the past 6 yrs, but have mostly just been either downtown or in the galleria. I am looking for neighborhood suggestions. So far, it looks like my best bets would be West U, the heights, or Bellaire for inner loop areas and sugar land for outside the loop.. here is some info:

1) the job is on greenway plaza near the double tree hotel. i would be willing to have a 30min commute and will likely work 630-3
2) i have 2 kids, 3.5 and 6 months.. schools are important and would prefer to send them to public schools.
3) would like to be able to walk to do things.. even if it is something small like going to a restaurant or ice cream shop
4) would really like a pool and not just a small modern looking spa pool like some of the ones in montrose - it make the move more attractive to my wife
5) 4+ bedrooms would be preferred.
6) my budget is anywhere up to about 1.2m for the right house

clements HS seems like it does the best on the SATs and I usually like to use that as a metric for school performance.. anything i am missing here?

thanks

Sugar Land has the best schools K-12. West U. and most of Bellaire can match or exceed them K-5. Heights does not have strong schools.

We basically did the same thing, looking at Sugar Land and inside the Loop back when we got married. We decided we liked the short commute and bought in West U. With your budget, unlike us, there isn't going to be much compromise on housing. Its a long time to middle school for you. You should consider the extra time you will have with the kids.

And we do have friends in West U. and the surrounding area who went to the local middle school (Pershing) or to the magnet (Pin Oak) and then to the IB program at Lamar HS. A lot can change in 8 years. You could get a different job. The schools could continue to improve. You could decide to send them to private school or you could decide to move.

[lotophage]

I'd agree that there isn't much point in looking past elementary. West U, Roberts, Twain, Horn, River Oaks are all top schools and you'd have an easy commute from any of those zones. Personally I think Poe is good too. It doesn't have the same reputation as the others, but it's got a large ESL program that skews the perception of the school, I think.

Walking distance to Rice Village is ideal, but there are pockets of restaurants and other amenities all through the area.

[HTownNearNative]

West U or Southside Place for sure. You will love it!

[Vicman]

From my understanding a lot of West U parents send their kids to Lanier and Pin Oak, while some go to Pershing. Upper class parents who send their kids to Lamar go IB.

Central Houston's wealthiest areas IMO generally have schools/programs available on par with Sugar Land, even in middle and high school.

[gwarnecke]

You're unlikely to find a satisfactory house in Southside Place for under 1.2 million. In West U, you'll have some options as long as you don't mind a house that may be a bit older/smaller/in need of updating.

West U would be a great choice...5 minute commute to Greenway Plaza and an excellent elementary school. If you decide to move out to SL for better public middle/high schools, you'll likely benefit from greater appreciation than if you had bought a house in Sugar Land.

[Failed Engineer]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

you'll likely benefit from greater appreciation than if you had bought a house in Sugar Land.

Not only that, but you'll have a very hard time selling a SL house over $1MM. That alone is a good reason to stick to the best inner loop neighborhoods.