Houston Overview
Considering a move to Houston? Already know you're moving but don't know the right neighborhood? Houston, also known as the Bayou City, is the most populous city in Texas and is considered one of the best places to live in the state. Houston has a booming job market and is home to the energy corridor and numerous hospital systems.
The city is known for its affordable housing compared to other major cities, such as San Francisco and New York. The cost of living in Houston is also about 5% lower than in Dallas and 19% lower than in Austin. Houston has no state income tax, which can significantly improve residents' financial well-being and their ability to access affordable housing.
With the proximity to the Gulf Coast, Houston's summers are characterized by high temperatures and humidity, often exceeding 90°F. And while hurricane season can be a concern, the area's mild winters rarely drop below 60°F, making it great for year-round activity.
Finding the right place to live can be difficult, as Houston's sprawling city has many neighborhoods, villages, and fantastic places to call home. Memorial Villages, or the Memorial Park area, is one of many residential areas in Houston. Let's dive into community considerations, what the city offers, and practical tips for determining whether Memorial is the best area for you.
Memorial Neighborhood Boundaries, City Limits, and Independent Municipalities
Memorial is located along the Memorial Drive and I-10 corridors in west Houston, between downtown and the Energy Corridor. The map above outlines the area and the individual villages that make up Memorial.
The Memorial Villages differ from City of Houston addresses, as they are independent municipalities with their own governments, police, and zoning. Unlike Houston proper, which famously lacks zoning regulations, the Memorial area has more traditional zoning, resulting in more localized control over development, permitting, and neighborhood character.
Because each village governs separately from the City of Houston, there are also differences in emergency services: all six villages share the Village Fire Department, while some maintain their own police force or share the Memorial Villages Police Department. The breakdown is below:
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Bunker Hill Village — MVPD + Village Fire
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Hunters Creek Village — MVPD + Village Fire
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Piney Point Village — MVPD + Village Fire
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Hedwig Village — Hedwig PD + Village Fire
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Hilshire Village — Spring Valley PD + Village Fire
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Spring Valley Village — Spring Valley PD + Village Fire
With dedicated village resources and a mostly residential makeup, these independent cities are widely considered safer than Houston proper. Each village averages roughly 25% to 2 times the number of police officers per 1,000 residents compared to Houston.
Housing And Affordability In The Memorial Area
Each upscale neighborhood village within the Memorial Park area has its own unique appeal and charm, and popularity is measured by median home prices and municipal property tax rates. For context, these are municipal-only rates, and a homeowner's tax bill will include other jurisdictional taxes, such as Spring Branch ISD and Harris County (HC flood control, department of education).
|
Village |
Median Home Sale Price (2025) |
Municipal Tax Rate ($$ per $100 of home value) |
|
Bunker Hill Village |
$2,660,000 |
$.271 |
|
Hunters Creek Village |
$2,225,000 |
$.205 |
|
Piney Point Village |
$6,595,000 |
$.255 |
|
Hedwig Village |
$1,480,000 |
$.336 |
|
Hilshire Village |
$930,000 |
$.529 |
|
Spring Valley Village |
$1,300,000 |
$.395 |
For these prices, residents can expect tree-lined streets, recreational facilities, and green spaces that come with master planned communities. While Memorial doesn't have the historic charm of an area like Houston Heights, many residents are willing to trade that historic charm and access to downtown Houston for the right neighborhood home and lot size. The villages combine the proximity of the big city with a suburban feel.
Homes and lots run the gamut in size, but with residents enjoying quick access to the energy corridor and downtown Houston via I-10, and to other areas via Beltway 8 and the I-610 loops, this central location offers median home prices generally well above those of Houston residents. Hilshire Village is the most affordable in housing prices, but also has the largest municipal tax rate of the villages, so do your research and identify which villages match your budget.
For young professionals and others looking to rent in the Memorial Park area, you can expect to pay, on average, more for rent than in Houston or its suburbs. The average breakdown by number of bedrooms in the area:
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Studio/1 BR - $1,500-1,700/month
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2 BR - $2,600/month
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3 BR - $3,700/month
Even with higher rents than the overall Houston metro area, the villages are still more affordable than major cities like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle. And whether renting or buying, there are plenty of townhome options in Memorial.
Overall, the location and proximity to both the medical facilities and energy corridor make Memorial one of the more expensive places to live in the Houston area. Residents have almost double the median household income ($122K vs. $64K) than the bayou city.
Employment and Career Growth Opportunities
Houston's economy is primarily based on the energy industry, particularly oil and gas, but is diversifying into other sectors such as healthcare facilities, technology, and retail/logistics, all of which employ large numbers of people. Houston added 29,612 jobs in the first three months of 2023, marking a 3.6% annualized increase in employment. The healthcare industry in Houston is experiencing significant growth, with MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Hermann, and Texas Children's being major employers. Here's a partial list of major employers in the area:
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Memorial Hermann (Countywide) — 31,425
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UT MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas Medical Center) — 26,270
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Amazon (Countywide) — 24,000
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City of Houston — 22,170
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Houston Methodist (Countywide) — 22,015
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Harris County — 19,920
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ExxonMobil (Countywide) — 16,740
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UT Health Houston — 16,150
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Chevron Corp. — 13,330
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United Airlines — 13,200
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Walmart (Countywide) — 13,055
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Daikin — 10,000
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CHI St. Luke’s Health (Countywide) — 10,000
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Harris Health System — 9,500
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Texas Children’s (Countywide) — 9,360
The booming job market, combined with Memorial Villages' proximity to these employers, makes the area very desirable for those seeking to move to a new city.
Healthcare Facilities and Schools
Aside from job opportunities and the housing market, a couple of the most important considerations for families relocating to any new city are excellent schools and healthcare resources. People moving to Houston can find excellent medical care and top-rated schools within the Memorial area.
Medical Care
All along the I-10 stretch from Katy to the 610 loop, there are major medical facilities for every medical need we can think of. From the need for a primary care physician to cutting-edge medical treatments, the area is home to some of the best healthcare in Texas. Some of the nearby medical providers include:
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Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center - A full-service acute care facility, with a level 3 trauma center, serves as the main hospital for the villages.
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Memorial City Rehab Hospital - An inpatient rehabilitation facility for stroke, trauma, and orthopedic rehab.
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Texas Children's Hospital West Campus - A pediatric hospital serving west Houston, with its own emergency department and specialty pediatric services.
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University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Located in the Texas Medical Center and ranked #1 in cancer care, it is known for a well-rounded approach to patient care, education, and cancer research and prevention.
Memorial Villages Schools
For potential residents, researching the best schools in the area can be done by looking up individual schools on online resources like the Texas Education Agency website. Memorial is primarily served by Spring Branch Independent School District, known for academic excellence and strong parental involvement. Some of the best schools in Memorial include:
Rummel Creek Elementary (SBISD) — Niche ranks it among the higher-ranked Memorial-area public elementary schools in Texas (#261) and gives it an A grade.
Frostwood Elementary (SBISD) — Niche ranks it highly in Memorial (#278 in Texas), and GreatSchools rates it 10/10 and “performing above average.”
Bunker Hill Elementary (SBISD) — Frequently mentioned by Memorial Village families; Niche lists it as an A-grade school in the Memorial-area list
Memorial Middle School (SBISD) — one of the strongest “traditional” public middle school options for the area; Niche lists it highly (#169 in Texas, A grade), and GreatSchools shows 9/10.
Memorial High School (SBISD) — the main Memorial-area public high school for many families; GreatSchools shows 8/10 and above-average performance.
Some pockets of the Memorial Villages may be assigned to Houston ISD or nearby districts, so you'll want to verify school assignments for your address. There are also private school options with specialized curricula available in and near the Memorial area. As for Universities and colleges, Memorial is close to the University of Houston, Rice University, and
Lifestyle, Recreational Activities, and Culinary Delights
Lifestyle And Cultural Diversity
Like most of Houston, the Memorial Villages area is primarily car-dependent, with most residents relying on personal vehicles for transportation. Outside of a few pockets in Memorial, with higher walkability near mixed-use nodes such as CityCentre, you'll be using your car for a lot of the public transportation system. That said, the whole Memorial area is at the center of everything valuable to families.
While the Memorial area is considered less culturally diverse than the Houston metro area, residents still have access to many culturally relevant events, such as:
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Houston Livestock and Rodeo
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Juneteenth Celebrations
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Dia de los Muertos events and parades
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Pride Houston events: Houston's LGBTQ+ celebrations and related community involvement.
Recreational Activities
While each Memorial Villages area has access to neighborhood recreational facilities, each also offers quick, easy access to parks, walking/biking trails, green spaces, and downtown Houston's Museum District. Some of these spaces include:
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Memorial Park - Known as an urban wilderness, this 1500-acre park has running/biking trails, native wetlands, and recreation facilities.
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Buffalo Bayou Park - Also has hiking/biking trails, as well as water access for activities like kayaking and fishing.
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Houston Museum and Fine Arts District - Home to 19 natural history and art museums, and just a 15-25 minute drive from the villages.
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The Houston Zoo - Another short drive for family fun.
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Memorial City - Anchoring the I-10 corridor, this multi-use area is known for vast shopping opportunities and a number of local and national chain restaurants.
In addition to the many parks and open spaces, Houston has plenty for sports fans, with major league teams like the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, and the Rockets, all within a reasonable drive of the Memorial area.
Restaurants and Night Life
Houston's culinary scene is diverse, offering a wide range of international cuisines and local specialties. From upscale neighborhood eats to casual date night or family dining, there are a number of options close to or in the Memorial City area, including:
Credence (Memorial City area) — Levi Goode’s live-fire Texas concept; widely noted as a standout in Memorial-area dining. Eater includes it on its Memorial-area best list, and OpenTable highlights it among the top options near Memorial City.
Masraff’s — long-running upscale favorite in the Memorial/Town & Country area, often recommended for business meals and special occasions. Eater includes it on the Memorial-area list.
The Henry (Town & Country / nearby Memorial) — a high-energy “neighborhood restaurant” style spot that OpenTable shows as a heavily booked option in the area.
State Fare Kitchen & Bar (Memorial City) — a well-known Memorial brunch and Southern/Gulf-Coast-leaning choice; recent coverage notes the Memorial City location remains open.
Kuu Restaurant — often named by locals in Memorial-area recommendations and known as a stronger sushi/Japanese option west of the Inner Loop. (Local recommendation thread support.)
Haywire (Memorial / CityCentre area) — repeatedly featured in Memorial-area dining coverage and known for Texas-style menu + social setting. Eater references it in related Memorial coverage.
Other Moving To Memorial Considerations And Resources
Because of the Gulf Coast proximity, Houston and the greater area get really interesting around hurricane season (typically mid-June through November), so people relocating to the area need to research their potential home's relative location to the bayou system, as neighborhoods have a higher flood risk than some other major cities in Texas.
Flood Risk, Insurance, and Drainage Due Diligence
For anyone moving to the area, we would recommend checking out a number of resources to map parcel-specific flood risk using FEMA data, local studies, neighborhood forums, and anything available to determine elevations, flood occurrences, and severity. While some neighborhoods are safer than others, Hurricane Harvey showed that most residents should be carrying flood insurance. Before buying, consult with an insurance agent and government resources to determine flood insurance needs and costs, and to learn what flood mitigation efforts have been undertaken in the area.
Moving Checklist and Due Diligence
In addition to flood mitigation and insurance checks, we would also recommend that prospective buyers research the following and create a moving checklist:
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Address specific structural, termite, and flood inspections.
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Find a realtor or realty group that specializes in the Memorial area.
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School identification and registration tasks via the links stated before
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Utility providers and setup steps: check local utility provider websites, such as Compare Power.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Memorial City offers an upscale neighborhood experience, and once you've researched and decided on the perfect home in the perfect spot, start early on your move planning process, and when you're ready, book the best Houston movers at 3 Men Movers. We have a lot of resources on moving, packing, and other neighborhoods to consider, but when it comes to the move, we've got you covered.