Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in Spring Branch West, Houston

C+

160th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 50 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

Spring Branch West is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 7,900 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 160th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on cost of living.

  • Errands close by
  • Hurricane risk is very high
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.5 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.4 mi
Cafe0.4 mi
Restaurant0.2 mi
Gym0.4 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.0 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library1.1 mi

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

Population
7,870
Median rent
$1,590
Median home value
$428,000
Household income
$93,800
Average commute
23 min
Homes owned
59%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Spring Branch West

Spring Branch West is a neighborhood in Houston with about 7,900 residents, homes built around 1967, a mix of owners and renters and 36% of households with children.

It grades C+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 160th of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.

Pros of living in Spring Branch West

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $93,800, 45% higher than the Houston median.
  • 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 0.4 miles away.

Cons of living in Spring Branch West

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,590, 17% higher than the Houston median.
  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 1 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and tornadoes as very high in this part of town.

Spring Branch West report card

Each grade compares Spring Branch West 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 $1,590, homes cost 4.6x income.

    28 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C+

    Median household income $93,800, 3.0% unemployed.

    49 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D+

    Nearby schools average 76 of 100 on the state rating.

    29 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 A

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    92 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B

    Average commute 23 min, 17% work from home.

    67 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C

    41% have a bachelor’s degree.

    42 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D+

    24% of adults uninsured.

    32 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade C-

    59% of homes owner-occupied.

    37 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B-

    95% of homes have broadband.

    60 of 100 vs TX areas

Spring Branch West compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Median household income: $93,80045% higher than Houston ($64,813)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 59%16 points higher than Houston (42%)
  • Average commute: 23 min15% lower than Houston (27 min)

Worse than Houston

  • Median rent: $1,59017% higher than Houston ($1,361)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 60%6 points higher than Houston (54%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 1.8%4 points lower than Houston (5.7%)

Closest public schools

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

  • CShadow Oaks ElementaryElementary, Spring Branch ISD0.4 mi
  • AMemorial MiddleMiddle, Spring Branch ISD1.2 mi
  • CSpring Woods High SchoolHigh, Spring Branch ISD1.1 mi

Cost of living in Spring Branch West

Median rent in Spring Branch West is $1,590 a month, 17% higher than the Houston median. A household would need about $64,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $428,000, 54% higher than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,781 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rent17% higher than Houston$1,590$1,361$1,403
Median home value54% higher than Houston$428,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income6% higher than Houston4.6x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent6 points higher than Houston60%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them16 points higher than Houston59%42%63%
Vacant homes4 points lower than Houston6.3%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston196719821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,781
Mortgage payment
$2,343
Property tax
$438
Median rent, for comparison
$1,590

Based on a $428,000 home in Spring Branch West, 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 income45% higher than Houston$93,800$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points lower than Houston3.0%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line5 points lower than Houston15%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher4 points higher than Houston41%37%34%
Average commute15% lower than Houston23 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home4 points higher than Houston17%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points lower than Houston1.8%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet5 points higher than Houston95%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 stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Spring Branch West

Under 1828%
18 to 3423%
35 to 6435%
65 and over13%
Race and ethnicity
White37%
Hispanic or Latino53%
Black3.3%
Asian1.3%
Other or more than one race5.3%

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. CNorthwoodMidland
  2. B-Southeast PlanoPlano
  3. C-Turtle Creek VillageRound Rock

Questions about Spring Branch West

Is Spring Branch West a good place to live?

Spring Branch West is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 7,900 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 160th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on cost of living.

How much does it cost to live in Spring Branch West?

Median rent in Spring Branch West is $1,590 a month, 17% higher than the Houston median. The median home is worth $428,000, 54% higher than the Houston median. A median home costs 4.6x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve Spring Branch West?

The closest rated public schools are Shadow Oaks Elementary (elementary, rated C), Memorial Middle (middle, rated A) and Spring Woods High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 5 Census block groups closest to the Spring Branch West 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.