Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Brays Oaks, Houston
235th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 23 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Brays Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 33,000 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 235th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.
- Lots of parks
- Jobs and income scores low (10 of 100)
- Health scores low (17 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.3 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.5 mi |
| Park | 0.3 mi |
| Cafe | 1.0 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.2 mi |
| Gym | 0.8 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 1.3 mi |
| Childcare | 0.4 mi |
| Library | 1.3 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 33,000
- Median rent
- $1,150
- Median home value
- $255,000
- Household income
- $54,400
- Average commute
- 29 min
- Homes owned
- 41%
What it's like to live in Brays Oaks
Brays Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston with about 33,000 residents, homes built around 1981, a mix of owners and renters and 31% of households with children.
It grades D against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 235th of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.
Pros of living in Brays Oaks
- Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,150, 16% lower than the Houston median.
- 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 Brays Oaks
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Brays Oaks report card
Each grade compares Brays Oaks 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 $1,150, homes cost 4.7x income.
45 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D-
Median household income $54,400, 9.7% unemployed.
10 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade C+
Nearby schools average 81 of 100 on the state rating.
53 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 C+
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
56 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade B-
Average commute 29 min, 9.6% work from home.
59 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade D+
30% have a bachelor’s degree.
29 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade D
24% of adults uninsured.
17 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D-
41% of homes owner-occupied.
14 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade D+
86% of homes have broadband.
25 of 100 vs TX areas
Brays Oaks compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Median rent: $1,15016% lower than Houston ($1,361)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 52%2 points lower than Houston (54%)
- Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 7.1%1 points higher than Houston (5.7%)
Worse than Houston
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 30%7 points lower than Houston (37%)
- Median household income: $54,40016% lower than Houston ($64,813)
- Homes with broadband internet: 86%4 points lower than Houston (90%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- BGross ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.6 mi
- BWelch MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD0.4 mi
- CThurgood Marshall High SchoolHigh, Fort Bend ISD2.5 mi
Cost of living in Brays Oaks
Median rent in Brays Oaks is $1,150 a month, 16% lower than the Houston median. A household would need about $46,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $255,000, 8% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,662 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent16% lower than Houston | $1,150 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value8% lower than Houston | $255,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income10% higher than Houston | 4.7x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent2 points lower than Houston | 52% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them1 points lower than Houston | 41% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes1 points higher than Houston | 12% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1981 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $1,396
- Property tax
- $266
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,150
Based on a $255,000 home in Brays Oaks, 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 income16% lower than Houston | $54,400 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rate3 points higher than Houston | 9.7% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line3 points higher than Houston | 23% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher7 points lower than Houston | 30% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute7% higher than Houston | 29 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home3 points lower than Houston | 9.6% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points higher than Houston | 7.1% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet4 points lower than Houston | 86% | 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
- HailVery low
- Heat wavesHigh
- WildfiresLow
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Brays Oaks
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.
- DNorth NacogdochesNacogdoches
- C-Wheatley Place Historic DistrictDallas
- D+La Villita EstatesDonna
Questions about Brays Oaks
Is Brays Oaks a good place to live?
Brays Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 33,000 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 235th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.
How much does it cost to live in Brays Oaks?
Median rent in Brays Oaks is $1,150 a month, 16% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $255,000, 8% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 4.7x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Brays Oaks?
The closest rated public schools are Gross Elementary (elementary, rated B), Welch Middle (middle, rated B) and Thurgood Marshall High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 24 Census block groups closest to the Brays Oaks 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.