Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Bellaire West, Houston
279th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 12 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Bellaire West is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 21,100 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 279th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on health.
- Lots of parks
- Jobs and income scores low (14 of 100)
- Education levels scores low (12 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.3 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.4 mi |
| Park | 0.3 mi |
| Cafe | 0.4 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.2 mi |
| Gym | 0.5 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.9 mi |
| Childcare | 0.5 mi |
| Library | 0.7 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 21,070
- Median rent
- $1,310
- Median home value
- $180,000
- Household income
- $54,800
- Average commute
- 34 min
- Homes owned
- 50%
What it's like to live in Bellaire West
Bellaire West is a neighborhood in Houston with about 21,100 residents, homes built around 1976, a mix of owners and renters and 36% of households with children.
It grades D- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 279th of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.
Pros of living in Bellaire West
- Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
- Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.
Cons of living in Bellaire West
- Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 2 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
- Longer commutes. The average commute is 34 minutes, against 27 for Houston as a whole.
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Bellaire West report card
Each grade compares Bellaire West 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 $1,310, homes cost 3.3x income.
44 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D-
Median household income $54,800, 6.3% unemployed.
14 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade D
Nearby schools average 73 of 100 on the state rating.
20 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.
77 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade C+
Average commute 34 min, 6.3% work from home.
51 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade D-
17% have a bachelor’s degree.
12 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade D-
33% of adults uninsured.
11 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D
50% of homes owner-occupied.
18 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade D
84% of homes have broadband.
20 of 100 vs TX areas
Bellaire West compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Home value to income: 3.3x23% lower than Houston (4.3x)
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 50%8 points higher than Houston (42%)
- Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 11%5 points higher than Houston (5.7%)
Worse than Houston
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 17%20 points lower than Houston (37%)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 66%12 points higher than Houston (54%)
- Average commute: 34 min24% higher than Houston (27 min)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- BMartin ElementaryElementary, Alief ISD0.4 mi
- BYoungblood IntermediateMiddle, Alief ISD0.6 mi
- CHastings High SchoolHigh, Alief ISD1.1 mi
Cost of living in Bellaire West
Median rent in Bellaire West is $1,310 a month, about the same as the Houston median. A household would need about $52,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $180,000, 35% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,202 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent4% lower than Houston | $1,310 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value35% lower than Houston | $180,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income23% lower than Houston | 3.3x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent12 points higher than Houston | 66% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them8 points higher than Houston | 50% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes1 points higher than Houston | 12% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1976 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $985
- Property tax
- $217
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,310
Based on a $180,000 home in Bellaire West, 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 income15% lower than Houston | $54,800 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rateAbout the same as Houston | 6.3% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line4 points higher than Houston | 23% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher20 points lower than Houston | 17% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute24% higher than Houston | 34 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home7 points lower than Houston | 6.3% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit5 points higher than Houston | 11% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet6 points lower than Houston | 84% | 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 wavesHigh
- WildfiresLow
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Bellaire West
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.
- D-Indian HillsGrand Prairie
- FCentral ArlingtonArlington
- DWoodlawn LakeSan Antonio
Questions about Bellaire West
Is Bellaire West a good place to live?
Bellaire West is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 21,100 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 279th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on health.
How much does it cost to live in Bellaire West?
Median rent in Bellaire West is $1,310 a month, 4% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $180,000, 35% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 3.3x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Bellaire West?
The closest rated public schools are Martin Elementary (elementary, rated B), Youngblood Intermediate (middle, rated B) 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 12 Census block groups closest to the Bellaire West 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.