Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Highland Heights, Houston
317th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 2 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Highland Heights is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 8,000 people. It gets an F, in the bottom 8% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 317th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on jobs and income.
- Jobs and income scores low (2 of 100)
- Education levels scores low (10 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.4 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.9 mi |
| Park | 0.6 mi |
| Cafe | 1.4 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.4 mi |
| Gym | 0.8 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 1.2 mi |
| Childcare | 0.4 mi |
| Library | 1.2 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 8,020
- Median rent
- $1,140
- Median home value
- $219,000
- Household income
- $30,100
- Average commute
- 32 min
- Homes owned
- 52%
What it's like to live in Highland Heights
Highland Heights is a neighborhood in Houston with about 8,000 residents, homes built around 1994, a mix of owners and renters and 29% of households with children.
It grades F against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 317th of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.
Pros of living in Highland Heights
- Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,140, 16% lower than the Houston median.
- Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.4 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
Cons of living in Highland Heights
- Higher poverty. 38% of residents live below the poverty line, against 20% across Houston.
- Higher unemployment. 12% of the labor force is out of work, against 7.0% across Houston.
- Longer commutes. The average commute is 32 minutes, against 27 for Houston as a whole.
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Highland Heights report card
Each grade compares Highland Heights 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 $1,140, homes cost 7.3x income.
23 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade F
Median household income $30,100, 12% unemployed.
3 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade C+
Nearby schools average 81 of 100 on the state rating.
50 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
Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
41 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade C-
Average commute 32 min, 8.4% work from home.
36 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade D-
13% have a bachelor’s degree.
10 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade F
29% of adults uninsured.
3 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D
52% of homes owner-occupied.
21 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade D-
81% of homes have broadband.
15 of 100 vs TX areas
Highland Heights compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 52%9 points higher than Houston (42%)
- Median rent: $1,14016% lower than Houston ($1,361)
Worse than Houston
- Home value to income: 7.3x70% higher than Houston (4.3x)
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13%23 points lower than Houston (37%)
- Median household income: $30,10054% lower than Houston ($64,813)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- BHighland Hts ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.9 mi
- DWilliams MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD0.7 mi
- BCarver H S for Applied Tech/Engineering/ArtsHigh, Aldine ISD1.4 mi
Cost of living in Highland Heights
Median rent in Highland Heights is $1,140 a month, 16% lower than the Houston median. A household would need about $46,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $219,000, 21% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,434 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent16% lower than Houston | $1,140 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value21% lower than Houston | $219,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income70% higher than Houston | 7.3x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent16 points higher than Houston | 70% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them9 points higher than Houston | 52% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homesAbout the same as Houston | 11% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1994 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $1,199
- Property tax
- $235
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,140
Based on a $219,000 home in Highland Heights, 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 income54% lower than Houston | $30,100 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rate6 points higher than Houston | 12% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line18 points higher than Houston | 38% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher23 points lower than Houston | 13% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute17% higher than Houston | 32 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home5 points lower than Houston | 8.4% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Houston | 3.7% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet9 points lower than Houston | 81% | 90% | 91% |
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.
- River floodingHigh
- Coastal floodingVery low
- HurricanesVery high
- TornadoesVery high
- HailLow
- Heat wavesHigh
- WildfiresLow
- Winter stormsVery low
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Highland Heights
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.
- FFox MeadowsCleburne
- D-South DallasDallas
- D-Southwest DallasDallas
Questions about Highland Heights
Is Highland Heights a good place to live?
Highland Heights is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 8,000 people. It gets an F, in the bottom 8% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 317th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on jobs and income.
How much does it cost to live in Highland Heights?
Median rent in Highland Heights is $1,140 a month, 16% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $219,000, 21% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 7.3x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Highland Heights?
The closest rated public schools are Highland Hts Elementary (elementary, rated B), Williams Middle (middle, rated D) and Carver H S for Applied Tech/Engineering/Arts (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 6 Census block groups closest to the Highland Heights 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.