Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in City Oaks, Houston

B-

152nd of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 60 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

City Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 16,300 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 152nd of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on cost of living.

  • Lots of parks
  • River flooding risk is very high
  • Hurricane risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store1.1 mi
Pharmacy1.0 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe1.0 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.8 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.7 mi
Childcare0.6 mi
Library1.6 mi

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

Population
16,290
Median rent
$1,930
Median home value
$233,000
Household income
$77,000
Average commute
26 min
Homes owned
69%
Loading map

What it's like to live in City Oaks

City Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston with about 16,300 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2007), mostly owner-occupied (69%) and 36% of households with children.

It grades B- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 152nd of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.

Pros of living in City Oaks

  • Well-rated schools nearby. 2 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in City Oaks

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,930, 42% higher than the Houston median.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.

City Oaks report card

Each grade compares City 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 $1,930, homes cost 3.0x income.

    37 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C-

    Median household income $77,000, 3.9% unemployed.

    39 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B+

    Nearby schools average 87 of 100 on the state rating.

    78 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 C-

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    40 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C

    Average commute 26 min, 11% work from home.

    42 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B-

    40% have a bachelor’s degree.

    60 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C

    16% of adults uninsured.

    43 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B-

    69% of homes owner-occupied.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B-

    96% of homes have broadband.

    62 of 100 vs TX areas

City Oaks compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 69%27 points higher than Houston (42%)
  • Home value to income: 3.0x30% lower than Houston (4.3x)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 16%8 points lower than Houston (24%)

Worse than Houston

  • Median rent: $1,93042% higher than Houston ($1,361)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 1.2%4 points lower than Houston (5.7%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 57%3 points higher than Houston (54%)

Closest public schools

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

  • DLaw ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.8 mi
  • BThomas MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD2.8 mi
  • ASouth Early College High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD1.2 mi

Cost of living in City Oaks

Median rent in City Oaks is $1,930 a month, 42% higher than the Houston median. A household would need about $77,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $233,000, 16% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,620 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rent42% higher than Houston$1,930$1,361$1,403
Median home value16% lower than Houston$233,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income30% lower than Houston3.0x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent3 points higher than Houston57%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them27 points higher than Houston69%42%63%
Vacant homes7 points lower than Houston3.8%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston200719821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,620
Mortgage payment
$1,275
Property tax
$344
Median rent, for comparison
$1,930

Based on a $233,000 home in City 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

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median household income19% higher than Houston$77,000$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate3 points lower than Houston3.9%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line7 points lower than Houston13%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher4 points higher than Houston40%37%34%
Average commute3% lower than Houston26 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home2 points lower than Houston11%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points lower than Houston1.2%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet6 points higher than Houston96%90%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingVery high
  • Coastal floodingHigh
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailLow
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresModerate
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in City Oaks

Under 1826%
18 to 3428%
35 to 6439%
65 and over6.3%
Race and ethnicity
White7.8%
Hispanic or Latino25%
Black55%
Asian8.6%
Other or more than one race3.5%

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. B-Southwest ArlingtonArlington
  2. B-Northeast GarlandGarland
  3. B-Southwest CanyonCanyon

Questions about City Oaks

Is City Oaks a good place to live?

City Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 16,300 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 152nd of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on cost of living.

How much does it cost to live in City Oaks?

Median rent in City Oaks is $1,930 a month, 42% higher than the Houston median. The median home is worth $233,000, 16% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 3.0x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve City Oaks?

The closest rated public schools are Law Elementary (elementary, rated D), Thomas Middle (middle, rated B) and South Early College High School (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 5 Census block groups closest to the City 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.