Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in Dow Acres, Houston

D-

292nd of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 9 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

Dow Acres is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 5,200 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 292nd of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (2 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (4 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.5 mi
Cafe0.4 mi
Restaurant0.1 mi
Gym0.6 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.5 mi
Childcare0.3 mi
Library1.5 mi

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

Population
5,230
Median rent
$1,130
Median home value
$189,000
Household income
$32,800
Average commute
24 min
Homes owned
4.1%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Dow Acres

Dow Acres is a neighborhood in Houston with about 5,200 residents, homes built around 1983, mostly rented (96% of homes) and 46% of households with children.

Our grade for Dow Acres is D-. That puts it 292nd of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.

Pros of living in Dow Acres

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,130, 17% lower than the Houston median.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.

Cons of living in Dow Acres

  • Higher poverty. 42% of residents live below the poverty line, against 20% across Houston.
  • Higher unemployment. 13% of the labor force is out of work, against 7.0% across Houston.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.

Dow Acres report card

Each grade compares Dow Acres with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade D+

    Median rent $1,130, homes cost 5.8x income.

    30 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $32,800, 13% unemployed.

    2 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C-

    Nearby schools average 78 of 100 on the state rating.

    39 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.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 24 min, 0.5% work from home.

    83 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade F

    10% have a bachelor’s degree.

    4 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    45% of adults uninsured.

    0 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade F

    4.1% of homes owner-occupied.

    6 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C

    91% of homes have broadband.

    42 of 100 vs TX areas

Dow Acres compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Median rent: $1,13017% lower than Houston ($1,361)
  • Average commute: 24 min13% lower than Houston (27 min)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 9.8%4 points higher than Houston (5.7%)

Worse than Houston

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 4.1%38 points lower than Houston (42%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10%27 points lower than Houston (37%)
  • People below the poverty line: 42%22 points higher than Houston (20%)

Closest public schools

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

  • BHollibrook ElementaryElementary, Spring Branch ISD0.4 mi
  • CLandrum MiddleMiddle, Spring Branch ISD1.5 mi
  • DNorthbrook High SchoolHigh, Spring Branch ISD1.9 mi

Cost of living in Dow Acres

Median rent in Dow Acres is $1,130 a month, 17% lower than the Houston median. A household would need about $45,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $189,000, 32% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,409 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rent17% lower than Houston$1,130$1,361$1,403
Median home value32% lower than Houston$189,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income34% higher than Houston5.8x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent13 points higher than Houston67%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them38 points lower than Houston4.1%42%63%
Vacant homes1 points higher than Houston12%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston198319821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,409
Mortgage payment
$1,035
Property tax
$374
Median rent, for comparison
$1,130

Based on a $189,000 home in Dow Acres, 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 income49% lower than Houston$32,800$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate6 points higher than Houston13%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line22 points higher than Houston42%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher27 points lower than Houston10%37%34%
Average commute13% lower than Houston24 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home12 points lower than Houston0.5%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points higher than Houston9.8%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet1 points higher than Houston91%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
  • WildfiresVery low
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Dow Acres

Under 1833%
18 to 3430%
35 to 6434%
65 and over3.4%
Race and ethnicity
White4.6%
Hispanic or Latino77%
Black18%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race0.7%

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. D-Callaway VillasCollege Station
  2. D-Rolling Creek EstatesBaytown
  3. D-Downtown KilgoreKilgore

Questions about Dow Acres

Is Dow Acres a good place to live?

Dow Acres is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 5,200 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 292nd of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

How much does it cost to live in Dow Acres?

Renters in Dow Acres pay a median of $1,130 a month, 17% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $189,000, 32% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 5.8x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve Dow Acres?

The closest rated public schools are Hollibrook Elementary (elementary, rated B), Landrum Middle (middle, rated C) and Northbrook High School (high, rated D). 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 Dow Acres 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.