Neighborhood in Houston, Harris County

Living in Sunnyside, Houston

D

257th of 320areas in Houston
Overall score 17 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Houston overall: D+

Sunnyside is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 19,400 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 257th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on health.

  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (6 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (17 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.8 mi
Pharmacy0.7 mi
Park0.4 mi
Cafe1.5 mi
Restaurant0.4 mi
Gym0.9 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.4 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library1.1 mi

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

Population
19,440
Median rent
$1,590
Median home value
$152,000
Household income
$53,100
Average commute
31 min
Homes owned
46%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Sunnyside

Sunnyside is a neighborhood in Houston with about 19,400 residents, homes built around 1971, a mix of owners and renters and 38% of households with children.

It grades D against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 257th of 320 areas in Houston, which grades D+ overall.

Pros of living in Sunnyside

  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.4 miles away.

Cons of living in Sunnyside

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,590, 17% higher than the Houston median.
  • Higher poverty. 32% of residents live below the poverty line, against 20% across Houston.
  • Higher unemployment. 14% of the labor force is out of work, against 7.0% across Houston.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 31 minutes, against 27 for Houston as a whole.

Sunnyside report card

Each grade compares Sunnyside 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 $1,590, homes cost 2.9x income.

    45 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $53,100, 14% unemployed.

    6 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B

    Nearby schools average 85 of 100 on the state rating.

    70 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

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    41 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C+

    Average commute 31 min, 8.8% work from home.

    52 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D

    18% have a bachelor’s degree.

    17 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    24% of adults uninsured.

    4 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D

    46% of homes owner-occupied.

    19 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D+

    86% of homes have broadband.

    24 of 100 vs TX areas

Sunnyside compared with Houston

Better than Houston

  • Home value to income: 2.9x33% lower than Houston (4.3x)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 46%3 points higher than Houston (42%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 7.4%2 points higher than Houston (5.7%)

Worse than Houston

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 18%19 points lower than Houston (37%)
  • People below the poverty line: 32%12 points higher than Houston (20%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 61%7 points higher than Houston (54%)

Closest public schools

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

  • BReynolds ElementaryElementary, Houston ISD1.3 mi
  • BAttucks MiddleMiddle, Houston ISD2.4 mi
  • ASouth Early College High SchoolHigh, Houston ISD0.7 mi

Cost of living in Sunnyside

Median rent in Sunnyside 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 $152,000, 45% lower than the Houston median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,023 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHoustonTexas
Median rent17% higher than Houston$1,590$1,361$1,403
Median home value45% lower than Houston$152,000$277,800$283,800
Home value to income33% lower than Houston2.9x4.3x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent7 points higher than Houston61%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them3 points higher than Houston46%42%63%
Vacant homesAbout the same as Houston10%11%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Houston197119821992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,023
Mortgage payment
$832
Property tax
$191
Median rent, for comparison
$1,590

Based on a $152,000 home in Sunnyside, 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 income18% lower than Houston$53,100$64,813$78,476
Unemployment rate7 points higher than Houston14%7.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line12 points higher than Houston32%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher19 points lower than Houston18%37%34%
Average commute15% higher than Houston31 min27 min27 min
Workers who work from home4 points lower than Houston8.8%13%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points higher than Houston7.4%5.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet5 points lower than Houston86%90%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingVery high
  • Coastal floodingHigh
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailLow
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Sunnyside

Under 1831%
18 to 3425%
35 to 6431%
65 and over12%
Race and ethnicity
White2.7%
Hispanic or Latino26%
Black67%
Asian2.4%
Other or more than one race2.5%

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. DNorth AmarilloAmarillo
  2. D-South DallasDallas
  3. DSoutheast HurstHurst

Questions about Sunnyside

Is Sunnyside a good place to live?

Sunnyside is a neighborhood in Houston, TX, home to about 19,400 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 257th of 320 areas we score in Houston. It does best on schools and worst on health.

How much does it cost to live in Sunnyside?

Median rent in Sunnyside is $1,590 a month, 17% higher than the Houston median. The median home is worth $152,000, 45% lower than the Houston median. A median home costs 2.9x the median household income, compared with 4.3x across Houston.

What schools serve Sunnyside?

The closest rated public schools are Reynolds Elementary (elementary, rated B), Attucks Middle (middle, rated B) and South 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 10 Census block groups closest to the Sunnyside 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.