Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Gulf Palms, Houston
269th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 14 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Gulf Palms is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 13,900 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 269th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on cost of living and worst on education levels.
- Jobs and income scores low (13 of 100)
- Education levels scores low (10 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.5 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.7 mi |
| Park | 0.5 mi |
| Cafe | 0.8 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.3 mi |
| Gym | 0.7 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.8 mi |
| Childcare | 1.0 mi |
| Library | 1.8 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 13,910
- Median rent
- $1,260
- Median home value
- $150,000
- Household income
- $56,900
- Average commute
- 29 min
- Homes owned
- 45%
What it's like to live in Gulf Palms
Gulf Palms is a neighborhood in Houston with about 13,900 residents, homes built around 1976, a mix of owners and renters and 44% of households with children.
It grades D- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 269th of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.
Pros of living in Gulf Palms
- Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
Cons of living in Gulf Palms
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Gulf Palms report card
Each grade compares Gulf Palms 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 $1,260, homes cost 2.6x income.
56 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D-
Median household income $56,900, 8.9% unemployed.
13 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade C-
Nearby schools average 78 of 100 on the state rating.
38 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 C+
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
52 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade C-
Average commute 29 min, 7.8% work from home.
35 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade D-
12% have a bachelor’s degree.
10 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade D-
34% of adults uninsured.
10 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D+
45% of homes owner-occupied.
30 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade C-
89% of homes have broadband.
34 of 100 vs TX areas
Gulf Palms compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Home value to income: 2.6x39% lower than Houston (4.3x)
- Vacant homes: 6.3%4 points lower than Houston (11%)
- Median rent: $1,2607% lower than Houston ($1,361)
Worse than Houston
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12%24 points lower than Houston (37%)
- Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 34%10 points higher than Houston (24%)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 64%10 points higher than Houston (54%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- CGenoa ElementaryElementary, Pasadena ISD0.8 mi
- AMiller IntermediateMiddle, Pasadena ISD1.2 mi
- CSouth Houston High SchoolHigh, Pasadena ISD1.5 mi
Cost of living in Gulf Palms
Median rent in Gulf Palms is $1,260 a month, 7% lower than the Houston median. A household would need about $50,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $150,000, 46% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,083 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent7% lower than Houston | $1,260 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value46% lower than Houston | $150,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income39% lower than Houston | 2.6x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent10 points higher than Houston | 64% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them3 points higher than Houston | 45% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes4 points lower than Houston | 6.3% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1976 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $821
- Property tax
- $262
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,260
Based on a $150,000 home in Gulf Palms, 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% lower than Houston | $56,900 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rate2 points higher than Houston | 8.9% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty lineAbout the same as Houston | 20% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher24 points lower than Houston | 12% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute6% higher than Houston | 29 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home5 points lower than Houston | 7.8% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points lower than Houston | 1.8% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet1 points lower than Houston | 89% | 90% | 91% |
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.
- River floodingModerate
- Coastal floodingModerate
- HurricanesVery high
- TornadoesVery high
- HailVery low
- Heat wavesHigh
- WildfiresLow
- Winter stormsVery low
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Gulf Palms
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.
- DCentral ConroeConroe
- D-Northeast RosenbergRosenberg
- DCentralSan Angelo
Questions about Gulf Palms
Is Gulf Palms a good place to live?
Gulf Palms is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 13,900 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 269th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on cost of living and worst on education levels.
How much does it cost to live in Gulf Palms?
Median rent in Gulf Palms is $1,260 a month, 7% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $150,000, 46% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 2.6x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Gulf Palms?
The closest rated public schools are Genoa Elementary (elementary, rated C), Miller Intermediate (middle, rated A) and South Houston High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 8 Census block groups closest to the Gulf Palms 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.