Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Second Ward, Houston
181st of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 41 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Second Ward is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 8,700 people. It gets a C, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 181st of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on home ownership.
- Lots of parks
- Jobs and income scores low (9 of 100)
- Home ownership scores low (8 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.5 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.3 mi |
| Park | 0.3 mi |
| Cafe | 0.4 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.2 mi |
| Gym | 0.2 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.8 mi |
| Childcare | 0.5 mi |
| Library | 0.6 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 8,680
- Median rent
- $1,070
- Median home value
- $319,000
- Household income
- $48,100
- Average commute
- 29 min
- Homes owned
- 45%
What it's like to live in Second Ward
Second Ward is a neighborhood in Houston with about 8,700 residents, homes built around 1968, a mix of owners and renters and 21% of households with children.
Our grade for Second Ward is C. That puts it 181st of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.
Pros of living in Second Ward
- Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,070, 21% lower than the Houston median.
- Well-rated schools nearby. 2 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
- Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
- Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.
Cons of living in Second Ward
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.
Second Ward report card
Each grade compares Second Ward 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 $1,070, homes cost 6.6x income.
46 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D-
Median household income $48,100, 8.0% unemployed.
9 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade B
Nearby schools average 85 of 100 on the state rating.
71 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 A-
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
83 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade B-
Average commute 29 min, 9.4% work from home.
60 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade D
25% have a bachelor’s degree.
23 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade D
30% of adults uninsured.
24 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade F
45% of homes owner-occupied.
8 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade D+
87% of homes have broadband.
27 of 100 vs TX areas
Second Ward compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 43%11 points lower than Houston (54%)
- Median rent: $1,07021% lower than Houston ($1,361)
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 45%3 points higher than Houston (42%)
Worse than Houston
- Home value to income: 6.6x55% higher than Houston (4.3x)
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 25%12 points lower than Houston (37%)
- Median household income: $48,10026% lower than Houston ($64,813)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- CLantrip ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.9 mi
- BBaylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at RuskMiddle, Houston ISD0.5 mi
- AEast Early College High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD0.2 mi
Cost of living in Second Ward
Median rent in Second Ward is $1,070 a month, 21% lower than the Houston median. A household would need about $43,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $319,000, 15% higher than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,090 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent21% lower than Houston | $1,070 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value15% higher than Houston | $319,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income55% higher than Houston | 6.6x | 4.3x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent11 points lower than Houston | 43% | 54% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them3 points higher than Houston | 45% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes9 points higher than Houston | 20% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1968 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $1,746
- Property tax
- $344
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,070
Based on a $319,000 home in Second Ward, 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 income26% lower than Houston | $48,100 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rateAbout the same as Houston | 8.0% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line5 points higher than Houston | 25% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher12 points lower than Houston | 25% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute8% higher than Houston | 29 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home4 points lower than Houston | 9.4% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points higher than Houston | 7.3% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet3 points lower than Houston | 87% | 90% | 91% |
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.
- River floodingHigh
- Coastal floodingHigh
- HurricanesVery high
- TornadoesVery high
- HailLow
- Heat wavesHigh
- WildfiresLow
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Second Ward
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.
- D+Ivory Palm EstatesMcAllen
- B-Central LongviewLongview
- C+Sprauge Meadows IVEdinburg
Questions about Second Ward
Is Second Ward a good place to live?
Second Ward is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 8,700 people. It gets a C, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 181st of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on home ownership.
How much does it cost to live in Second Ward?
Renters in Second Ward pay a median of $1,070 a month, 21% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $319,000, 15% higher than the Houston median. A median home costs 6.6x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Second Ward?
The closest rated public schools are Lantrip Elementary (elementary, rated C), Baylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at Rusk (middle, rated B) and East 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 9 Census block groups closest to the Second Ward 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.