Houston Neighborhoods – Midtown

If you want to be part of a party that never ends and can still wake up on a Tuesday for work after only a few hours of sleep, on of the more popular Houston Neighborhoods – Midtown is for you. At just over one square mile, the dense area borders Downtown, Montrose, The Museum District and the University Area (University of Houston and Texas Southern University.) Midtown offers significant walkability to restaurants, bars and for some, the option to walk to work in Downtown. Unfortunately, rental rates in this area are some of the highest in the city due to a limited number of apartment communities and very high demand. On the contrary, home ownership in this area is affordable as the density allows for primarily condominium and townhouse construction in the limited square mileage. There are several desirable Houston Neighborhoods- Midtown is quite possibly the most in-demand.

Walkability ★★★★☆

Midtown excels in being one of Houston’s most walkable neighborhoods along with Montrose and the Memorial Heights (the area between Allen Parkway and Washington below Rice Military.) Considering how little the area is and the large number of bars, clubs, lounges and restaurants, walking out one’s front door practically lands them at the doorstep of something else.  Additionally, many residents of Midtown have specifically chosen the area because of its proximity to downtown. On the few brisk winter days we get in Houston, the walk to the office is quite pleasant.

Transportation ★★★★☆

Midtown isn’t just walkable; it also shares the METROrail. No matter which corner of Midtown you live, the METROrail is no more than a few blocks and in mere minutes, you can be downtown enjoying craft cocktails on the North end of Main Street (Preston Station) or at a Texans football game in the Medical Center at NRG Stadium (Reliant Park Station.) You could even make a stop at Mid-Main (Ensemble Station) for the monthly craft fair, fresh food, and great live music.

Dining ★★★★☆

Midtown is home to nationally acclaimed seafood restaurant, Reef where chef and owner Brian Caswell has twice been a James Beard Award nominee. The neighborhood boasts Houston’s (and possibly the nation’s) best Vietnamese cuisine. If you have a hankering for Pho or Banh Mi, just mosey over to Smith Street and take your pick. Houston chain Cyclone Anaya’s is within walking distance to most communities and the famously haunted Brennan’s of Houston is located just by the spur. In addition to the high end dining options, Midtown has plenty of affordable choices for all the young professionals moving to Houston including everything from pizza and Chinese to full menu pubs.

Nightlife ★★★★☆

Midtown wouldn’t be the same without the bustling night life everyone raves about.  Whether your style is lounging in your favorite distressed jeans and a t-shirt, or popping bottles, Midtown has a place for you. Leon’s Lounge, Houston’s oldest watering hole provides craft cocktails with a hint of old school feel, but just a few blocks away, the Drinkery has beats pumping, cocktails flowing and a dance floor sweatier than a hot summer day in…well, Houston, I guess. Local chain, Little Woodrow’s is smack in the middle of it all with chili cook-offs and turtle races; whereas one block over is 3^rd floor with pricier cocktails and a downtown skyline view that makes it all worth it. If you need to catch the game, head over to Buffalo Wild Wings, or better yet, check out St. Danes over on Elgin, and if wine is more your style, 13 Celsius offers great people watching from the sidewalk and half prices glasses on Sunday. If you’re looking for a place to see and be seen, perhaps the Dogwood is the spot for you, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Brad Womack from The Bachelor.

Pet Friendly ★★★☆☆

All of the communities in Midtown accept your furry friends, and nearly all also accept the larger breeds. Midtown doesn’t have a lot of grassy areas to walk your fur-babies, and the communities are older; so, on-site dog parks aren’t common, but there are 2 official dog friendly parks in Midtown. One is a small section of Midtown Park and is more of a run; the other is located at Austin and Elgin and has more space for the little guys to really let loose. Montrose’s Webster Park isn’t a far walk, either.
Average Single Family Home Purchase Price: $335,539*

Average One Bedroom Rental Rate – Privately Owned: $1544**

Average One Bedroom Rental Rate – Class A Apartment: $1475***

*data calculated on January 4, 2015 from HAR.com using condominiums, townhouses and freestanding houses sold in the past 90 days with an average square footage of 1750 square feet.

** data calculated on January 4, 2015 from HAR.com using one bedroom condominiums, apartments and 1-4 family complexes leased in the past 90 days ranging in size with an average square footage of 980 square feet.

*** data calculated on January 4, 2015 using the most recent “best rate available within 60 days” published on UrbanLeasing.com for traditional one bedroom one bathroom apartments at the 11 Class A apartment communities in the Midtown area. A “Class A” apartment is new or recently updated, well maintained and offers luxury finishes, gated access, on-site parking, washer and dryer, and amenities include at minimum a pool, fitness center and cyber café. This average rate does not take into consideration studio or efficiency apartment homes. The team at UrbanLeasing.com updates rates on a daily basis as market data becomes available.

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