Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in Scenic Woods, Houston

D-

266th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 14 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

Scenic Woods is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 5,700 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 266th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (4 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (13 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.4 mi
Pharmacy0.9 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe0.9 mi
Restaurant0.4 mi
Gym1.0 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.3 mi
Childcare0.5 mi
Library0.5 mi

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

Population
5,730
Median rent
$1,220
Median home value
$130,000
Household income
$38,200
Average commute
27 min
Homes owned
62%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Scenic Woods

Scenic Woods is a neighborhood in Houston with about 5,700 residents, older homes (median year built 1962), a mix of owners and renters and 31% of households with children.

It grades D- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 266th of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.

Pros of living in Scenic Woods

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,220, 10% lower than the Houston median.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.4 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in Scenic Woods

  • Higher unemployment. 18% of the labor force is out of work, against 7.0% across Houston.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.

Scenic Woods report card

Each grade compares Scenic Woods 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 $1,220, homes cost 3.4x income.

    43 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $38,200, 18% unemployed.

    4 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B-

    Nearby schools average 83 of 100 on the state rating.

    58 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

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    42 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B-

    Average commute 27 min, 4.5% work from home.

    63 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D-

    14% have a bachelor’s degree.

    13 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    27% of adults uninsured.

    5 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade C-

    62% of homes owner-occupied.

    33 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade F

    73% of homes have broadband.

    7 of 100 vs TX areas

Scenic Woods compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 62%20 points higher than Houston (42%)
  • Home value to income: 3.4x21% lower than Houston (4.3x)
  • Median rent: $1,22010% lower than Houston ($1,361)

Worse than Houston

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 14%22 points lower than Houston (37%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 73%17 points lower than Houston (90%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 71%17 points higher than Houston (54%)

Closest public schools

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

  • BShadydale ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.9 mi
  • CForest Brook MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD0.9 mi
  • BNorth Forest High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD2.7 mi

Cost of living in Scenic Woods

Median rent in Scenic Woods is $1,220 a month, 10% lower than the Houston median. A household would need about $49,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $130,000, 53% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $800 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rent10% lower than Houston$1,220$1,361$1,403
Median home value53% lower than Houston$130,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income21% lower than Houston3.4x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent17 points higher than Houston71%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them20 points higher than Houston62%42%63%
Vacant homes2 points lower than Houston8.7%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston196219821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$800
Mortgage payment
$712
Property tax
$88
Median rent, for comparison
$1,220

Based on a $130,000 home in Scenic Woods, 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 income41% lower than Houston$38,200$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate11 points higher than Houston18%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line4 points higher than Houston24%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher22 points lower than Houston14%37%34%
Average commuteAbout the same as Houston27 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home9 points lower than Houston4.5%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Houston5.1%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet17 points lower than Houston73%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 windLow

Who lives in Scenic Woods

Under 1825%
18 to 3422%
35 to 6432%
65 and over22%
Race and ethnicity
White0.4%
Hispanic or Latino27%
Black70%
Asian1.8%
Other or more than one race1.1%

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. D-South DallasDallas
  2. D-BontonDallas
  3. D+Southeast Del RioDel Rio

Questions about Scenic Woods

Is Scenic Woods a good place to live?

Scenic Woods is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 5,700 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 266th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

How much does it cost to live in Scenic Woods?

Median rent in Scenic Woods is $1,220 a month, 10% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $130,000, 53% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 3.4x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve Scenic Woods?

The closest rated public schools are Shadydale Elementary (elementary, rated B), Forest Brook Middle (middle, rated C) and North Forest High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 4 Census block groups closest to the Scenic Woods 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.