Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in Briar Park, Houston

D+

209th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 30 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

Briar Park is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 5,200 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 209th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on internet access and worst on home ownership.

  • Jobs and income scores low (11 of 100)
  • Home ownership scores low (11 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.3 mi
Park0.9 mi
Cafe0.2 mi
Restaurant0.1 mi
Gym0.4 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.4 mi
Childcare0.3 mi
Library2.9 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
5,240
Median rent
$1,370
Median home value
$198,000
Household income
$57,400
Average commute
37 min
Homes owned
37%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Briar Park

Briar Park is a neighborhood in Houston with about 5,200 residents, homes built around 1991, a mix of owners and renters and 33% of households with children.

Our grade for Briar Park is D+. That puts it 209th of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.

Pros of living in Briar Park

  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.

Cons of living in Briar Park

  • Higher unemployment. 16% of the labor force is out of work, against 7.0% across Houston.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 37 minutes, against 27 for Houston as a whole.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.

Briar Park report card

Each grade compares Briar Park 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 $1,370, homes cost 3.4x income.

    46 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $57,400, 16% unemployed.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C+

    Nearby schools average 81 of 100 on the state rating.

    53 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 884 violent crimes per 100k, 3,828 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade B

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    65 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C-

    Average commute 37 min, 11% work from home.

    33 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C+

    33% have a bachelor’s degree.

    51 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D

    18% of adults uninsured.

    24 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    37% of homes owner-occupied.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B

    97% of homes have broadband.

    71 of 100 vs TX areas

Briar Park compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Home value to income: 3.4x20% lower than Houston (4.3x)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 97%7 points higher than Houston (90%)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 18%6 points lower than Houston (24%)

Worse than Houston

  • Average commute: 37 min36% higher than Houston (27 min)
  • Unemployment rate: 16%9 points higher than Houston (7.0%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 37%5 points lower than Houston (42%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • CHeflin ElementaryElementary, Alief ISD1.1 mi
  • CO'donnell MiddleMiddle, Alief ISD1.5 mi
  • BWestside High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD1.5 mi

Cost of living in Briar Park

Median rent in Briar Park is $1,370 a month, about the same as the Houston median. A household would need about $55,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $198,000, 29% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,357 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rentAbout the same as Houston$1,370$1,361$1,403
Median home value29% lower than Houston$198,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income20% lower than Houston3.4x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent3 points higher than Houston57%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them5 points lower than Houston37%42%63%
Vacant homes3 points higher than Houston13%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston199119821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,357
Mortgage payment
$1,084
Property tax
$273
Median rent, for comparison
$1,370

Based on a $198,000 home in Briar Park, 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

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median household income11% lower than Houston$57,400$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate9 points higher than Houston16%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line3 points lower than Houston17%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher4 points lower than Houston33%37%34%
Average commute36% higher than Houston37 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home2 points lower than Houston11%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Houston5.9%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet7 points higher than Houston97%90%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingHigh
  • Coastal floodingVery low
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailLow
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsVery low
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Briar Park

Under 1825%
18 to 3435%
35 to 6432%
65 and over7.8%
Race and ethnicity
White17%
Hispanic or Latino23%
Black50%
Asian4.9%
Other or more than one race5.1%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Houston

  1. 1A+Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial ParkMedian rent $3,230
  2. 2A+Boulevard OaksMedian rent $1,940
  3. 3A+BraeswoodMedian rent $1,360
  4. 4A+Washington Avenue CorridorMedian rent $2,080
  5. 5A+Mandell PlaceMedian rent $1,210
  6. 6A+Westwood GroveMedian rent $2,100
  7. 7A+Kings Point
  8. 8A+Palisades ParkMedian rent $3,020

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. C-LoveladyCleburne
  2. DShady Acre Mobile Home ParkNew Braunfels
  3. C-South side of North Richland HillsNorth Richland Hills

Questions about Briar Park

Is Briar Park a good place to live?

Briar Park is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 5,200 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 209th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on internet access and worst on home ownership.

How much does it cost to live in Briar Park?

Renters in Briar Park pay a median of $1,370 a month, about the same as the Houston median. The median home is worth $198,000, 29% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 3.4x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve Briar Park?

The closest rated public schools are Heflin Elementary (elementary, rated C), O'donnell Middle (middle, rated C) and Westside High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 4 Census block groups closest to the Briar Park 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.