Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Independence Heights, Houston
215th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 28 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Independence Heights is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 19,000 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 215th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on health.
- Top-rated schools
- Jobs and income scores low (10 of 100)
- Education levels scores low (6 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.3 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.4 mi |
| Park | 0.5 mi |
| Cafe | 0.8 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.2 mi |
| Gym | 0.5 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.5 mi |
| Childcare | 0.6 mi |
| Library | 1.1 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 19,050
- Median rent
- $1,140
- Median home value
- $215,000
- Household income
- $46,500
- Average commute
- 27 min
- Homes owned
- 43%
What it's like to live in Independence Heights
Independence Heights is a neighborhood in Houston with about 19,100 residents, homes built around 1973, a mix of owners and renters and 33% of households with children.
Our grade for Independence Heights is D+. That puts it 215th of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.
Pros of living in Independence Heights
- Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,140, 16% lower 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 0.5 miles away.
Cons of living in Independence Heights
- Higher poverty. 28% of residents live below the poverty line, against 20% across Houston.
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Independence Heights report card
Each grade compares Independence 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 C-
Median rent $1,140, homes cost 4.6x income.
36 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D-
Median household income $46,500, 6.8% unemployed.
10 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade A
Nearby schools average 90 of 100 on the state rating.
89 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 B-
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
59 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade B
Average commute 27 min, 8.3% work from home.
66 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade F
11% have a bachelor’s degree.
6 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade F
41% of adults uninsured.
4 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D-
43% of homes owner-occupied.
14 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade D
82% of homes have broadband.
16 of 100 vs TX areas
Independence Heights compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Median rent: $1,14016% lower than Houston ($1,361)
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 43%1 points higher than Houston (42%)
Worse than Houston
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11%25 points lower than Houston (37%)
- Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 41%17 points higher than Houston (24%)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 67%13 points higher than Houston (54%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- BNorthline ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.6 mi
- BFonville MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD1.1 mi
- ANorth Houston Early College High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD1.9 mi
Cost of living in Independence Heights
Median rent in Independence 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 $215,000, 23% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,407 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 value23% lower than Houston | $215,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income8% higher than Houston | 4.6x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent13 points higher than Houston | 67% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them1 points higher than Houston | 43% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes2 points higher than Houston | 13% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1973 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $1,177
- Property tax
- $230
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,140
Based on a $215,000 home in Independence 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 income28% lower than Houston | $46,500 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rateAbout the same as Houston | 6.8% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line8 points higher than Houston | 28% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher25 points lower than Houston | 11% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commuteAbout the same as Houston | 27 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home5 points lower than Houston | 8.3% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Houston | 5.6% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet8 points lower than Houston | 82% | 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
- WildfiresLow
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Independence 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.
- C-Moreno Addition SubdivisionLaredo
- D+Three PointsLaredo
- CVilla Del SolLaredo
Questions about Independence Heights
Is Independence Heights a good place to live?
Independence Heights is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 19,000 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 215th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on health.
How much does it cost to live in Independence Heights?
Renters in Independence Heights pay a median of $1,140 a month, 16% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $215,000, 23% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 4.6x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Independence Heights?
The closest rated public schools are Northline Elementary (elementary, rated B), Fonville Middle (middle, rated B) and North Houston Early College High School (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 17 Census block groups closest to the Independence 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.