Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Central City, Houston
89th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 84 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Central City is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 12,700 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 89th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on home ownership.
- Lots of parks
- Home ownership scores low (7 of 100)
- Hurricane risk is very high
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.3 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.4 mi |
| Park | 0.2 mi |
| Cafe | 0.4 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.2 mi |
| Gym | 0.3 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.3 mi |
| Childcare | 0.6 mi |
| Library | 0.7 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 12,680
- Median rent
- $1,540
- Median home value
- $295,000
- Household income
- $72,800
- Average commute
- 21 min
- Homes owned
- 18%
What it's like to live in Central City
Central City is a neighborhood in Houston with about 12,700 residents, homes built around 1998, mostly rented (82% of homes) and 12% of households with children.
Our grade for Central City is A-. That puts it 89th of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.
Pros of living in Central City
- Well-rated schools nearby. 1 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
- 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 0.2 miles away.
Cons of living in Central City
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Central City report card
Each grade compares Central City 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 $1,540, homes cost 4.1x income.
40 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D
Median household income $72,800, 6.6% unemployed.
23 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade B+
Nearby schools average 88 of 100 on the state rating.
80 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 A-
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
83 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade A
Average commute 21 min, 15% work from home.
94 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade A-
79% have a bachelor’s degree.
88 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade B
11% of adults uninsured.
71 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade F
18% of homes owner-occupied.
7 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade B-
96% of homes have broadband.
62 of 100 vs TX areas
Central City compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 79%42 points higher than Houston (37%)
- Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 20%14 points higher than Houston (5.7%)
- Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 11%14 points lower than Houston (24%)
Worse than Houston
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 18%24 points lower than Houston (42%)
- Median rent: $1,54013% higher than Houston ($1,361)
- Vacant homes: 13%2 points higher than Houston (11%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- CWhidby ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD1.2 mi
- CCullen MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD1.4 mi
- ADebakey H S for Health ProfHigh, Houston ISD1.5 mi
Cost of living in Central City
Median rent in Central City is $1,540 a month, 13% higher than the Houston median. A household would need about $62,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $295,000, 6% higher than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,960 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent13% higher than Houston | $1,540 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value6% higher than Houston | $295,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income5% lower than Houston | 4.1x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent5 points lower than Houston | 49% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them24 points lower than Houston | 18% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes2 points higher than Houston | 13% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1998 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $1,615
- Property tax
- $345
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,540
Based on a $295,000 home in Central City, 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 income12% higher than Houston | $72,800 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rateAbout the same as Houston | 6.6% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line1 points lower than Houston | 19% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher42 points higher than Houston | 79% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute24% lower than Houston | 21 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home2 points higher than Houston | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit14 points higher than Houston | 20% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet6 points higher than Houston | 96% | 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 wavesModerate
- WildfiresVery low
- Winter stormsVery low
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Central City
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.
- A-Hyde ParkAustin
- AMedical DistrictAustin
- BEast Farmers BranchFarmers Branch
Questions about Central City
Is Central City a good place to live?
Central City is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 12,700 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 89th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on home ownership.
How much does it cost to live in Central City?
Renters in Central City pay a median of $1,540 a month, 13% higher than the Houston median. The median home is worth $295,000, 6% higher than the Houston median. A median home costs 4.1x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Central City?
The closest rated public schools are Whidby Elementary (elementary, rated C), Cullen Middle (middle, rated C) and Debakey H S for Health Prof (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 9 Census block groups closest to the Central City 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.