Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County
Living in Southwood Oaks, Houston
130th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 70 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+
Southwood Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 2,000 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 130th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.
- Top-rated schools
- Lots of parks
- Home ownership scores low (10 of 100)
- Internet access scores low (13 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.5 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.5 mi |
| Park | 0.3 mi |
| Cafe | 0.6 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.4 mi |
| Gym | 0.6 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.5 mi |
| Childcare | 0.3 mi |
| Library | 0.7 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 1,950
- Median rent
- $1,230
- Median home value
- $432,000
- Household income
- $94,000
- Average commute
- 32 min
- Homes owned
- 57%
What it's like to live in Southwood Oaks
Southwood Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston with about 2,000 residents, homes built around 1969, a mix of owners and renters and 19% of households with children.
Our grade for Southwood Oaks is B. That puts it 130th of 320 areas we grade in Houston, a city that gets a D+ overall.
Pros of living in Southwood Oaks
- Higher incomes. The median household earns $94,000, 45% higher 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 0.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
- Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.
Cons of living in Southwood Oaks
- 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 river flooding, coastal flooding and hurricanes as very high in this part of town.
Southwood Oaks report card
Each grade compares Southwood Oaks 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 $1,230, homes cost 4.6x income.
49 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade D
Median household income $94,000, 12% unemployed.
23 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade A
Nearby schools average 90 of 100 on the state rating.
88 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 C-
Average commute 32 min, 21% work from home.
34 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade B+
61% have a bachelor’s degree.
76 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade B
9.9% of adults uninsured.
66 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D-
57% of homes owner-occupied.
10 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade D-
79% of homes have broadband.
13 of 100 vs TX areas
Southwood Oaks compared with Houston
Better than Houston
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 61%24 points higher than Houston (37%)
- Median household income: $94,00045% higher than Houston ($64,813)
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 57%15 points higher than Houston (42%)
Worse than Houston
- Vacant homes: 23%13 points higher than Houston (11%)
- Homes with broadband internet: 79%11 points lower than Houston (90%)
- Average commute: 32 min18% higher than Houston (27 min)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- BLockhart ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD0.1 mi
- ABaylor College of Medicine Academy at RyanMiddle, Houston ISD1.2 mi
- AEnergy Institute High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD0.5 mi
Cost of living in Southwood Oaks
Median rent in Southwood Oaks is $1,230 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 $432,000, 56% higher than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,796 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent10% lower than Houston | $1,230 | $1,361 | $1,403 |
| Median home value56% higher than Houston | $432,000 | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income7% higher than Houston | 4.6x | 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 them15 points higher than Houston | 57% | 42% | 63% |
| Vacant homes13 points higher than Houston | 23% | 11% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston | 1969 | 1982 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $2,365
- Property tax
- $432
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,230
Based on a $432,000 home in Southwood Oaks, 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 income45% higher than Houston | $94,000 | $64,813 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rate5 points higher than Houston | 12% | 7.0% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line1 points higher than Houston | 21% | 20% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher24 points higher than Houston | 61% | 37% | 34% |
| Average commute18% higher than Houston | 32 min | 27 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home8 points higher than Houston | 21% | 13% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Houston | 3.4% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet11 points lower than Houston | 79% | 90% | 91% |
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.
- River floodingVery high
- Coastal floodingVery high
- HurricanesVery high
- TornadoesVery high
- HailLow
- Heat wavesModerate
- WildfiresVery low
- Winter stormsVery low
- Strong windLow
Who lives in Southwood Oaks
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.
- B+FoxbriarThe Woodlands
- C+Cambridge CrossingCinco Ranch
- B-Cielo Vista EastEl Paso
Questions about Southwood Oaks
Is Southwood Oaks a good place to live?
Southwood Oaks is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 2,000 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 130th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.
How much does it cost to live in Southwood Oaks?
Renters in Southwood Oaks pay a median of $1,230 a month, 10% lower than the Houston median. The median home is worth $432,000, 56% higher than the Houston median. A median home costs 4.6x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.
What schools serve Southwood Oaks?
The closest rated public schools are Lockhart Elementary (elementary, rated B), Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan (middle, rated A) and Energy Institute High School (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 2 Census block groups closest to the Southwood Oaks 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.