Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in First Ward, Houston

B+

123rd of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 72 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

First Ward is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 7,200 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 123rd of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.

  • Top-rated schools
  • Lots of parks
  • Home ownership scores low (9 of 100)
  • River flooding risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.3 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.3 mi
Restaurant0.1 mi
Gym0.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.7 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library0.7 mi

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

Population
7,240
Median rent
$1,800
Median home value
$461,000
Household income
$111,200
Average commute
29 min
Homes owned
36%
Loading map

What it's like to live in First Ward

First Ward is a neighborhood in Houston with about 7,200 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2001), a mix of owners and renters and 11% of households with children.

Our grade for First Ward is B+. That puts it 123rd of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.

Pros of living in First Ward

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $111,200, 72% higher than the Houston median.
  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 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 First Ward

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,800, 32% 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.

First Ward report card

Each grade compares First Ward 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 $1,800, homes cost 4.1x income.

    39 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C-

    Median household income $111,200, 8.5% unemployed.

    38 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A

    Nearby schools average 90 of 100 on the state rating.

    89 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 A-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    83 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B-

    Average commute 29 min, 25% work from home.

    64 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C+

    49% have a bachelor’s degree.

    53 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C

    21% of adults uninsured.

    43 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    36% of homes owner-occupied.

    9 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C+

    93% of homes have broadband.

    49 of 100 vs TX areas

First Ward compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Median household income: $111,20072% higher than Houston ($64,813)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 40%14 points lower than Houston (54%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 49%13 points higher than Houston (37%)

Worse than Houston

  • Median rent: $1,80032% higher than Houston ($1,361)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 36%6 points lower than Houston (42%)
  • Vacant homes: 14%4 points higher than Houston (11%)

Closest public schools

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

  • ACrockett ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.1 mi
  • BGregory-Lincoln Ed CtrMiddle, Houston ISD1.2 mi
  • ACarnegie Vanguard High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD1.3 mi

Cost of living in First Ward

Median rent in First Ward is $1,800 a month, 32% higher than the Houston median. A household would need about $72,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $461,000, 66% higher than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $3,134 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rent32% higher than Houston$1,800$1,361$1,403
Median home value66% higher than Houston$461,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income3% lower than Houston4.1x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent14 points lower than Houston40%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them6 points lower than Houston36%42%63%
Vacant homes4 points higher than Houston14%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston200119821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$3,134
Mortgage payment
$2,523
Property tax
$611
Median rent, for comparison
$1,800

Based on a $461,000 home in First Ward, 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 income72% higher than Houston$111,200$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points higher than Houston8.5%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line5 points lower than Houston15%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher13 points higher than Houston49%37%34%
Average commute8% higher than Houston29 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home12 points higher than Houston25%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points higher than Houston9.2%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet3 points higher than Houston93%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 wavesHigh
  • WildfiresVery low
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in First Ward

Under 1812%
18 to 3449%
35 to 6430%
65 and over9.7%
Race and ethnicity
White31%
Hispanic or Latino46%
Black11%
Asian8.0%
Other or more than one race4.5%

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+West GrapevineGrapevine
  2. B-Central EulessEuless
  3. B-Winnetka Heights Historic DistrictDallas

Questions about First Ward

Is First Ward a good place to live?

First Ward is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 7,200 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 123rd of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.

How much does it cost to live in First Ward?

Renters in First Ward pay a median of $1,800 a month, 32% higher than the Houston median. The median home is worth $461,000, 66% higher than the Houston median. A median home costs 4.1x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve First Ward?

The closest rated public schools are Crockett Elementary (elementary, rated A), Gregory-Lincoln Ed Ctr (middle, rated B) and Carnegie Vanguard 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 First Ward 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.