Houston, Texas is the fourth-largest city in the United States in terms of population.
The city has traditionally been a center of the oil and gas business but has more recently expanded into aerospace, biotechnology, and even renewable energy as parts of its core industries.
Houston is the home of several major league sports teams, including the Houston Astros baseball team, the Houston Texans football team, and the Houston Rockets basketball team.
The city has become well known as a center of high culture, including the Alley Theater and Jones Hall.
It is also known for its diverse restaurant scene that has expanded greatly from the traditional barbecue and Tex-Mex.
12.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents and 42.33 property crimes per 1,000 residents occurred in 2021.
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8 Safest Neighborhoods in Houston
1. Spring Branch North
This is a quiet neighborhood in the northwest part of Houston.
The neighborhood resides between the 610 Loop and Beltway 8 with I 10 to the south.
It has a certain suburban/urban feel with a lot of single-family homes and a lot of amenities such as restaurants, parks, and an excellent public school system.
A lot of young, middle-class families live in this quiet community.
The yearly violent crime rate is 911 average annual incidents per 100,000 people.
The yearly property crime rate is 3,572 average annual incidents per 100,000 people.
The police are said to be quite visible, thus lending a sense of safety to the neighborhood.
2. Westchase
This is a mixed residential/business area to the west of Houston.
The neighborhood lies between Westheimer Road on the north, Westpark Tollway to the south, Gessner Road to the east, and Center Boulevard to the west.
It is noted for its numerous amenities, including hotels, restaurants, parks and green spaces, grocery stores, and libraries.
The neighborhood has several major employers including Chevron and Dow Chemical.
Westchase has a low tendency to flood and is near highways that can get residents to other parts of the city easily.
The yearly violent crime rate is 1,335 average annual incidents per 100,000 people.
The yearly property crime rate is 4,643 average annual incidents per 100,000 people,
3. Midtown
It is located between Downtown Houston and the Museum District.
The neighborhood is a heavily wooded, walkable area filled with amenities, including bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.
It is close to cultural centers as well, including Herman Park, the Houston Zoo, the Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Contemporary Arts Museum.
Midtown is bisected by one of the main lines of Houston’s light rail network that extends from just south of the South Loop to Downtown.
Midtown experiences 503 violent crimes per 100,000 people and 1672 property crimes per 100,000 people per year.
4. Sugar Land
It lies in the far southwest part of Houston.
It is filled with single-family homes and apartments suitable for families and single people.
Amenities include hiking trails, restaurants, shopping centers, golf courses, and a branch of the Natural History Museum.
The Smart Financial Center is the venue of numerous live performances.
The neighborhood has great public schools and a very effective, visible police force.
The annual violent crime rate is 57 average annual incidents per 100,000 people.
The property crime rate is 1067 average annual incidents per 100,000 people.
5. Fulshear
This is technically its own incorporated city but, located in Fort Bend County to the far west of Houston, it serves as a bedroom community for people who work and play in Houston proper.
It offers a rural lifestyle for its residents, most of whom own their own homes.
Opportunities abound for fishing, kayaking, camping, and bicycling.
Cultural amenities reflect the rural nature of the neighborhood.
They include a farmer’s market and a harvest festival.
The schools are excellent and the police are efficient.
The area has an annual average violent crime rate of 21 incidents per 100,000 people and a property crime rate of 390 average annual incidents per 100,000.
6. Friendswood
It lies to the south of Houston, in the northern part of Galveston County.
The neighborhood is a favorite place to live for people who want easy access to employers and amenities in Houston proper without the cramped, urban feel and the stress that goes with it.
Friendswood has numerous parks and green spaces for its residents to enjoy.
It is also in easy reach of Galveston’s beaches and cultural centers.
Law enforcement and an active neighborhood watch association tend to keep crime down.
As a result, the annual average violent crime rate is 88 average annual incidents per 100.000 people and the property crime rate is 574 average annual incidents per 100,000 people.
7. Kingwood
It is located in northeast Houston and is a master-planned community.
The neighborhood is known as the “livable forest” because of its abundance of trees that provide shade and a certain ambiance that the residents appreciate.
What it lacks in restaurants and bars, Kingwood makes up for in more rustic amenities, including parks and hiking and biking trails.
The neighborhood has several playgrounds and public swimming pools that have become the center of community life.
The annual average crime rate is 88 violent crimes per 100,000 people and 574 property crimes per 100,000 people.
8. Bellaire
This is a separate city surrounded by Houston and is bisected by the West Loop freeway.
Housing in this neighborhood consists of a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartment complexes.
The area contains a wide variety of restaurants and bars as well as public parks.
The city operates its public library.
The area is home to many employers, including Frost Bank, AT&T, and Chevron.
Bellaire has a separate police department.
The city experiences an annual average of 109 violent crimes per 100,000 people and 1,773 property crimes per 100,000 people.
5 Safety Tips for Traveling to Houston
- When out and about, do not display any valuables such as cash or your cell phone. That kind of display could tempt muggers,
- Maintain situational awareness at all times. If you feel unsafe while walking, duck into a nearby business and call a cab or rideshare to get to where you’re going,
- Houston, like most parts of Texas, has fairly loose concealed-carry laws. If you decide to go that route, take instruction to learn about your legal obligations and when and how it might be appropriate to resist a mugging or some other assault with deadly force. It is best to avoid situations that could endanger you (see above). Pulling a gun, even if you are trained, should always be a last resort. Even if you’re in the right, shooting someone can lead to all sorts of legal complications.
- If you are out clubbing and find that you have had too much to drink, by all means, call a cab or a rideshare. Drunk driving can end in tragedy.
- When out and about, put your cash, cards, and other valuables in a money belt rather than a wallet, to avoid pickpockets.
Houston Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Houston Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
How does one get around Houston?
Houston has a surface-level light rail system as well as a bus system that covers the city.
Rideshare is also an option if you want to get to where you’re going a little quicker, Houston has an extensive freeway system, though it is often jammed during morning and evening rush hours.
What is the most dangerous neighborhood in Houston?
Sunnyside, an area located just south of Downtown Houston, is considered the most dangerous neighborhood in the city.
It has a crime rate measuring 92 per 1,000 people.
The most typical violent crimes that occur in Sunnyside include robberies, assaults, and to a lesser degree, murder.
What is the best tourist attraction in Houston?
Hands down, the best tourist attraction in Space City is Space Center Houston, next to the Johnson Space Center.
It contains numerous exhibits such as a SpaceX Falcon 9, a mockup of a space shuttle, space suits, and numerous interactive educational experiences.
Tram tours of the Johnson Spaceflight Center are available as well.
Houston also has several sports venues, including NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, and the Toyota Center.
