Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Alief, Houston
250th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 18 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Alief is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 15,600 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 250th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on education levels.
- Lots of parks
- Jobs and income scores low (18 of 100)
- Education levels scores low (17 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.4 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.3 mi |
| Park | 0.3 mi |
| Cafe | 0.5 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.3 mi |
| Gym | 0.8 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.7 mi |
| Childcare | 0.5 mi |
| Library | 0.9 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 15,580
- Median rent
- $1,450
- Median home value
- $213,000
- Household income
- $63,900
- Average commute
- 29 min
- Homes owned
- 57%
What it's like to live in Alief
Alief is a neighborhood in Houston with about 15,600 residents, homes built around 1988, a mix of owners and renters and 32% of households with children.
Our grade for Alief is D. That puts it 250th of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.
Pros of living in Alief
- Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.4 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
- Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.
Cons of living in Alief
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Alief report card
Each grade compares Alief with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.
Cost of living: grade C
Median rent $1,450, homes cost 3.3x income.
44 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D
Median household income $63,900, 7.2% unemployed.
18 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade D+
Nearby schools average 76 of 100 on the state rating.
31 of 100 vs TX areasSafety: no grade
Citywide, 884 violent crimes per 100k, 3,828 property crimes per 100k.
No score vs TX areasErrands and things to do: grade B+
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
73 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade C
Average commute 29 min, 5.2% work from home.
41 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade D
20% have a bachelor’s degree.
17 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade D
24% of adults uninsured.
18 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D+
57% of homes owner-occupied.
30 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade C-
90% of homes have broadband.
37 of 100 vs TX areas
Alief compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 57%15 points higher than Houston (42%)
- Home value to income: 3.3x22% lower than Houston (4.3x)
- Vacant homes: 8.5%2 points lower than Houston (11%)
Worse than Houston
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 20%17 points lower than Houston (37%)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 59%5 points higher than Houston (54%)
- Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 2.6%3 points lower than Houston (5.7%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- DYouens ElementaryElementary, Alief ISD0.8 mi
- CAlief MiddleMiddle, Alief ISD0.7 mi
- CHastings High SchoolHigh, Alief ISD0.7 mi
Cost of living in Alief
Median rent in Alief is $1,450 a month, 7% higher than the Houston median. A household would need about $58,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $213,000, 23% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,397 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent7% higher than Houston | $1,450 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value23% lower than Houston | $213,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income22% lower than Houston | 3.3x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent5 points higher than Houston | 59% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them15 points higher than Houston | 57% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes2 points lower than Houston | 8.5% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1988 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $1,166
- Property tax
- $231
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,450
Based on a $213,000 home in Alief, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.
Work, income and getting around
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household incomeAbout the same as Houston | $63,900 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rateAbout the same as Houston | 7.2% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty lineAbout the same as Houston | 19% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher17 points lower than Houston | 20% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute6% higher than Houston | 29 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home8 points lower than Houston | 5.2% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit3 points lower than Houston | 2.6% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internetAbout the same as Houston | 90% | 90% | 91% |
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.
- River floodingVery high
- Coastal floodingVery low
- HurricanesVery high
- TornadoesVery high
- HailLow
- Heat wavesVery high
- WildfiresLow
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Alief
Race and ethnicity
Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.
Other neighborhoods in Houston
- 1A+Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial ParkMedian rent $3,230
- 2A+Boulevard OaksMedian rent $1,940
- 3A+BraeswoodMedian rent $1,360
- 4A+Washington Avenue CorridorMedian rent $2,080
- 5A+Mandell PlaceMedian rent $1,210
- 6A+Westwood GroveMedian rent $2,100
- 7A+Kings Point
- 8A+Palisades ParkMedian rent $3,020
Similar neighborhoods in other cities
Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.
- DValley HiSan Antonio
- DCentral ConroeConroe
- D-Central DuncanvilleDuncanville
Questions about Alief
Is Alief a good place to live?
Alief is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 15,600 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 250th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on education levels.
How much does it cost to live in Alief?
Renters in Alief pay a median of $1,450 a month, 7% higher than the Houston median. The median home is worth $213,000, 23% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 3.3x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Alief?
The closest rated public schools are Youens Elementary (elementary, rated D), Alief Middle (middle, rated C) and Hastings High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 8 Census block groups closest to the Alief name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.