“Space City,” aka Houston, TX has become a destination for many people relocating to Texas and the Gulf Coast region. With its picturesque skyline and historic museums to the stellar food scene, chili, pecan pie, and Texas BBQ, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that close to 2 million people live in Houston.
As more people move to the Houston area, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $315,000 and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Houston is $1,647.
Don’t worry if that price doesn’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home that does. We’ve rounded up a list of the 10 best affordable Houston suburbs to consider living in – and they’re all under a 45-minute drive from the city. That way you can live close to Houston and all its cool activities without paying the price of living there.
With a median home sale price nearly $150K less than Houston, Sheldon comes in at number one on our list of most affordable Houston suburbs. About 20 minutes away from downtown Houston, Sheldon is home to roughly 1,900 people. Living in Sheldon, you can spend time exploring Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center, which features a lake and ponds for fishing, wetlands, wildlife watching, and a boat ramp.
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Our second suburb, Jacinto City, is a little more expensive than Sheldon. Only a 10-minute drive from Houston you’ll be exploring the Houston Zoo in no time. Some popular things to do in Jacinto City are visiting the nearby San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. When living in this suburb of about 10,000 people, you can also spend the day exploring the walking trails or having a picnic at Herman Brown Park.
Taking the third spot on our list is Galena Park,with a median home sale price of $197,750 and only a 15-minute drive away from the city. There are plenty of picturesque and outdoorsy activities to take part in when living in Galena Park. If you find yourself moving to this affordable Houston suburb, make sure to visit its namesake park, Galena Park.
Only slightly more expensive than Galena Park is South Houston, the next suburb on our list. With roughly 17,000 residents living in this Houston suburb, make sure to stop by the 1940 Air Terminal Museum or Strawberry Park for an afternoon of fun. And weekend trips into downtown Houston won’t take you too long, only about 15 minutes, if you’re lucky to catch a traffic-free drive.
About a 15-minute drive into the city, consider adding Channelview to your list of Houston suburbs to consider living in. Home to 43,000 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking to remain close to Houston without paying the price for a home in the city. In Channelview, make sure to take in the views of Bear Lake at Moncrief Park or play a round of golf at River Terrace Golf Course.
Another noteworthy Houston suburb is Pasadena, where the home prices are about $75K less than in Houston. Home to roughly 146,000 people, Pasadena is a great suburb to consider living in. Whether you spend the day at Armand Bayou Nature Center or grab a coffee at a local café, there are many cool things to do and see in this suburb.
Claiming the seventh spot on our list of affordable Houston suburbs is La Marque, which is almost 40 minutes away from the city center. With a population of about 19,000, La Marque is a great area to live in that’s not nearly as big as Houston. If you’re going to call this area home, plan time to explore Carbide Park or take a short drive to nearby Tiki Island.
If you’ve lived in or around Houston for some time, you may know our eighth suburb – Cloverleaf. About 26,000 people reside in Cloverleaf, so you’ll have a fraction of Houston’s population while remaining only 15 minutes from the city. Living in Cloverleaf, be sure to check out the North Shore Rotary Park and brush up on your roller skating skills at The Skate Machine.
Moving to Baytown will give you access to downtown Houston in close to 25 minutes – as long as you don’t find yourself in traffic. About 79,000 people live in this suburb, but there are plenty of activities to do in Baytown. Popular things in Baytown include exploring the walking trails or enjoying the bay views at Baytown Nature Center or enjoying the lazy river at Pirates Bay Waterpark.
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Rounding out our list of affordable Houston suburbs is Bacliff, where the home prices about $45K less than in Houston. Without traffic, you’ll find yourself in Houston in roughly 35 minutes. This suburb has a population of 10,800 residents and is home to the Bayview Equestrian Center and Bayshore Park. There’s plenty to do on an afternoon or weekend while living in Bacliff.
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Houston and under a 45-minute drive from downtown Houston. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during April 2022. Average rental data fromRent.comMay 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our
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Serving homebuyers and sellers in the Houston area, Dianna Navarro is a top real estate agent at Redfin with the latest market insights and local expertise. With years of experience as a real estate agent in the greater Houston area, Dianna Navarro possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the local market.
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