5 Best College Neighborhoods in Houston, TX

Off-campus college life is a far cry from the on-campus experience. For one thing, there’s a lot more freedom.

Unfortunately, that freedom also means making some tough choices — like which one of Houston’s fantastic neighborhoods you should move to and spend the rest of your college years.

The upside of this conundrum is that you have a lot of options. With major universities, like Rice University, The University of Houston, and Southern Texas University located in Houston, college students flock to a ton of great neighborhoods. But which one is right for you?

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about Houston’s best college neighborhoods and how to choose the right one for you!

What Makes a Good College Neighborhood?

The factors that determine a good college neighborhood will depend on the individual.

Each student brings their own unique set of preferences to their apartment neighborhood search. Therefore, figuring out your own preferences is the best way to determine which college neighborhood is best for you.

That said, there are some neighborhood features that every college student should consider before deciding where they want to spend their off-campus college years.

Here’s a breakdown of the essential neighborhood features to consider when choosing a college neighborhood.

Entertainment Options

A prominent part of the student experience is partying or some variation thereof. That said, partying isn’t the only way to have fun as a college student, especially when you live in a city like Houston.

It’ll be hard to pass up the opportunity to enjoy a good meal, great drinks, and dancing at one or more of the city’s thriving nightlife scenes. So, don't.

If you want to spend some time exploring Houston’s bars and restaurants during your time as a student, research your options and focus on ones that are near an area known for nightlife.

That said, entertainment comes in many forms. If your fun comes in the form of outdoor activity, joining local clubs, going to the gym, catching a sporting event, or something all your own, Houston has more than enough to keep you happy!

Overall Walkability

Owning a car in Houston is essential, so you should keep this in mind when looking for lodgings in the city. That said, college cities typically have neighborhood pockets where students can live comfortably without using a car to commute.

If you are looking to get around without owning a car, you’ll find that neighborhoods near city centers offer the best walkability.

Cycling is also a pretty great option for travel. You don’t need to invest in a super expensive bike. However, if you want to cycle through your commute, you will need to invest in a solid lock and learn how to properly lock up your bike when you leave it unattended during classes.

Finally, Houston’s public transit system is serviceable, especially if you live in one of the city center neighborhoods mentioned earlier. Most colleges also have some sort of college shuttle, as well. So, be sure to check your college’s shuttle routes when choosing a neighborhood.

Discounts for Students

If you can find any, discounted student rentals are a great way to save money while studying. Many landlords and property managers near colleges rent to students almost exclusively.

There’s usually a lot of competition for these off-campus properties, so there may not be a ton of student discounts. However, as you get further away from the school’s main campus, you’ll likely find a few discounts.

Generally, students vie for the apartments offering the shortest commute, so the apartments that aren’t as close have a more challenging time attracting student tenants. However, if you don’t mind a longer commute, this is a great way to reduce your rent rate.

5 Best College Neighborhoods in Houston

Houston has a lot to offer any college student, so finding the best neighborhood can present a significant challenge. To help you get started, we’ve selected some of the city’s great neighborhoods that would be an excellent location for college students.

Here’s a look at the top five best college neighborhoods in Houston.

1. Medical Center

The Texas Medical Center in Houston is one of the city’s most prominent economic and educational institutions. The campus takes up well over two miles of land in the city. The surrounding neighborhood, aptly named Medical Center, is a residential and medical district.

Rice University students will know the neighborhood quite well, as the school’s main campus is right across the street. Moreover, it’s an important location for the university’s medical students and the city’s healthcare workers.

Students who want to pursue a career in the medical and healthcare field will find that Medical Center offers the best commute, networking opportunities, and an excellent location, right in the heart of the city.

Surrounding Medical Center is a collection of Houston’s best neighborhoods, which offers easy access to various restaurants, shopping, parks, and more. Traveling Downtown takes just minutes, and other major attractions and venues are super close by.

If you plan on driving around the city during your time as a student, you’ll appreciate how close the Medical Center neighborhood is to highways 59 and 288.

2. Montrose

Neartown-Montrose is one of Houston’s more eclectic neighborhoods with a strong arts community and diverse residents. Not only is there always something to do in the neighborhood, but most fun activities are within walking distance.

If you want city adventures during your college experience, there’s no better place to start. Neartown-Montrose is packed with coffee shops (both local and chain), bars, and restaurants.

If you cobble together some spending money, you’ll find excellent fare at local boutiques. Plus, you’ll likely have a bit of extra cash renting in this neighborhood, as rents are generally cheaper than other areas of Houston.

Although Neartown-Montrose is a little further away from Houston’s primary downtown area, the distance is only around four miles.

While it’s not necessarily walkable, you’ll easily be able to catch a bus to help you get around. However, a car would certainly make things easier and more convenient, especially if you attend Rice or the University of Houston.

That said, you don’t even have to leave the neighborhood to experience Houston’s lively nightlife scene. There are plenty of bars and hole-in-the-wall joints to keep you entertained.

Neartown-Montrose is also home to a robust and welcoming LGBTQ+ community, offering a safe haven and opportunities for outreach within the community.

3. East Downtown

In Houston’s East Downtown neighborhood, known to locals as EaDo, you’ll experience the luxury of living near the city’s bustling center and enjoying a short commute to pretty much every major amenity that you could need.

This neighborhood is generally very business during game days, as Houston’s professional basketball, baseball, and soccer teams have arenas in the area.

Fortunately, that means that students don’t have to go too far to find something fun to do in their free time. Sports bars are great places to unwind and support your home team.

Students can easily get around the city, as EaDo is well-served by the METRO Transit & Light Rail services. It’s a life-saver whenever you’re running late to class.

This neighborhood has strong Asian roots and was historically referred to as Houston’s Chinatown district. While the nickname now belongs to another part of the city, the remnants of its past give EaDo a unique culture and vibe.

If you’re worried about connecting with other students in the area, don’t fret. EaDo is home to students from the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and other smaller local colleges. So, there’s always an opportunity to make a new friend.

4. Memorial Park/Washington Avenue

If this guide had come out ten years ago, you wouldn’t find the Memorial Park/Washington Avenue neighborhood on it. However, the neighborhood has come a long way in the past decade, and the revitalization process has paid off big time.

Older dilapidated buildings were torn down, and newer residential spaces were built, attracting even more neighborhood development. In their place, you’ll find townhouses and other rental units that make for high-quality student housing options.

Students living in the neighborhood benefit from enviably close proximity to Houston’s famed Memorial Park. The massive park has access to pretty much anything outdoor recreational activity you could think of, from jogging to softball.

Cyclists often frequent the area, as the park’s many trails offer an excellent opportunity to get a few miles in. There are also more than a few excellent restaurants in the area, so you can remain fueled for your late-night study sessions.

Better yet, Washington Avenue makes other popular spots widely accessible. Choose Houston’s Memorial Park/Washington Avenue neighborhood if you are looking for a slower-paced college experience with the room to focus on staying healthy and enjoying the city’s mild year-round weather.

5. Downtown

The first thing to know about Downtown Houston is that there really isn’t a downtown city proper. So when discussing Downtown Houston, you’re really talking about a collection of smaller neighborhoods, each with its own unique styles and cultures from Montrose to River Oaks.

Now that you know that little Houstonian tidbit, you’ll be all set for life as a student living in the heart of Houston. You’ll find a solid mix of students from Rice University, Houston University, and Texas Southern University strewn about the city center.

So, the location presents an incredible opportunity for a student looking to make connections, network, and find a great group of friends. But, of course, it also doesn’t hurt that the area is chock-full of recreation and entertainment options, most of which are just a stone’s throw away.

Downtown Houston residents are close to most of the city’s most popular parks and attractions, including the aquarium, sporting event arenas, and a thriving bar scene. So, students can make a real go of working hard and playing hard.

Finally, getting around is relatively easy, as the city’s transit options serve this portion of the community quite well. So, whether you’re loading up on groceries at the local H-E-B or wrapping up a trip to the park, you don’t have to worry about a long slog through the city to reach your destination.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right college apartment can be challenging, especially when you are looking in a city with as much to offer as Houston.

That said, finding the right match starts with you. What do you want out of your college experience, and how can your living arrangements help you achieve that?

Once you have answers to these big questions, everything else will come more easily.

Ready to find your dream college apartment in Houston? Take our quiz.