Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in Garden Villas, Houston

B-

149th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 62 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

Garden Villas is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 4,300 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 149th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on education levels.

  • Education levels scores low (17 of 100)
  • Hurricane risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.8 mi
Pharmacy1.5 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe1.4 mi
Restaurant0.6 mi
Gym1.0 mi
Hospital or urgent care2.3 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library0.8 mi

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

Population
4,310
Median rent
$1,300
Median home value
$218,000
Household income
$87,000
Average commute
26 min
Homes owned
88%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Garden Villas

Garden Villas is a neighborhood in Houston with about 4,300 residents, older homes (median year built 1953), mostly owner-occupied (88%) and 46% of households with children.

Our grade for Garden Villas is B-. That puts it 149th of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.

Pros of living in Garden Villas

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $87,000, 34% higher than the Houston median.
  • 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 Garden Villas

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.

Garden Villas report card

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

  • Cost of living: grade B-

    Median rent $1,300, homes cost 2.5x income.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B-

    Median household income $87,000, 3.8% unemployed.

    59 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B+

    Nearby schools average 86 of 100 on the state rating.

    73 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.

    33 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C

    Average commute 26 min, 9.6% work from home.

    44 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D

    18% have a bachelor’s degree.

    17 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C-

    24% of adults uninsured.

    37 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B

    88% of homes owner-occupied.

    65 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C-

    90% of homes have broadband.

    38 of 100 vs TX areas

Garden Villas compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 88%46 points higher than Houston (42%)
  • Home value to income: 2.5x41% lower than Houston (4.3x)
  • People below the poverty line: 5.7%14 points lower than Houston (20%)

Worse than Houston

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 18%19 points lower than Houston (37%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 63%9 points higher than Houston (54%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 1.1%5 points lower than Houston (5.7%)

Closest public schools

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

  • AGarden Villas ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.6 mi
  • BHartman MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD1.1 mi
  • CMount Carmel AcademyHigh, Houston ISD0.7 mi

Cost of living in Garden Villas

Median rent in Garden Villas is $1,300 a month, 4% lower than the Houston median. A household would need about $52,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $218,000, 22% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,398 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rent4% lower than Houston$1,300$1,361$1,403
Median home value22% lower than Houston$218,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income41% lower than Houston2.5x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent9 points higher than Houston63%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them46 points higher than Houston88%42%63%
Vacant homes2 points lower than Houston8.4%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston195319821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,398
Mortgage payment
$1,193
Property tax
$205
Median rent, for comparison
$1,300

Based on a $218,000 home in Garden Villas, 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 income34% higher than Houston$87,000$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate3 points lower than Houston3.8%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line14 points lower than Houston5.7%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher19 points lower than Houston18%37%34%
Average commute5% lower than Houston26 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home3 points lower than Houston9.6%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit5 points lower than Houston1.1%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internetAbout the same as Houston90%90%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingHigh
  • Coastal floodingHigh
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery low
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsVery low
  • Strong windVery low

Who lives in Garden Villas

Under 1825%
18 to 3418%
35 to 6441%
65 and over16%
Race and ethnicity
White10%
Hispanic or Latino60%
Black26%
Asian1.9%
Other or more than one race2.2%

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. A-Indian Ridge EastEl Paso
  2. C+Pine MeadowsTomball
  3. B-Los PresidentesLaredo

Questions about Garden Villas

Is Garden Villas a good place to live?

Garden Villas is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 4,300 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 149th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on education levels.

How much does it cost to live in Garden Villas?

Renters in Garden Villas pay a median of $1,300 a month, 4% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $218,000, 22% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 2.5x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve Garden Villas?

The closest rated public schools are Garden Villas Elementary (elementary, rated A), Hartman Middle (middle, rated B) and Mount Carmel Academy (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 3 Census block groups closest to the Garden Villas 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.