9 Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Houston: Where Are Houston's Most Expensive Homes?

For those looking for a taste of the high life, Houston's real estate market has plenty to offer—fitting for the largest city in Texas. The city of Houston has more than its share of highly desirable neighborhoods, from the trendy Montrose area to the luxurious estates of Royal Oaks. Looking for a walkable community where the best of downtown is just outside your door? A secluded getaway with historic architecture? How about a neighborhood with a mature tree canopy and homes that exemplify understated elegance?

The most expensive neighborhoods in Houston are also some of the city’s best, and these nine Houston luxury neighborhoods are sure to appeal to even the most discerning homebuyer.

River Oaks

River Oaks is unquestionably the most expensive neighborhood in Houston, with a median home price of roughly $3.8 million—not to mention the many individual River Oaks listings that hit double-digit millions. Even vacant lots in River Oaks typically sell in the high hundreds of thousands, if not more than a million. This ultra-high-end enclave is a society unto itself—to enter River Oaks is to enter a wonderland of luxury.

It’s no surprise that the best home builders in Houston love to work in the River Oaks neighborhood, and it shows in the abundance of gorgeous custom estates. Style isn’t an object—homebuyers can discover historic Tudor-style gems from the 20s and 30s, near-palatial high-rise luxury condos in The Huntingdon, and brand-new lock-and-leave construction alike. Home features like balconies, wine vaults, and professional landscaping come standard, to say nothing of rare amenities such as private tennis courts, and the finishing details are the best money can buy.

River Oaks is bordered by Buffalo Bayou to the north, and the north-central part of the neighborhood is dominated by the private River Oaks Country Club. With nearly a century of history, this preeminent Houston golf club cultivates a high-end experience. The golf itself provides some of the best short holes in Houston among old-growth oaks and pines, and amenities include tennis, swimming, dining, a fitness center, and a clubhouse that’s truly one of a kind.

Royal Oaks

Houston's Royal Oaks neighborhood is located west of the Beltway 8 Toll Road in the heart of the city's popular Richmond-Westheimer area. Inside this prestigious gated community are the members-only Royal Oaks Country Club and 18-hole golf course laid out among the subdivision's many high-end properties. Residents enter past the guardhouse on Royal Oaks Club Drive and Meadowglen Lane, behind the commercial development on the south side of Westheimer, with another gated entry at Shire Wood Lane and Kirkwood.

Many of the golf course homes in Royal Oaks offer fairway and lake-side views, and most sit on lots large enough for private pools and other backyard luxuries. The typical home here measures between 3,200 and 5,500 square feet. With prices from the $600s to $1.75 million, Royal Oaks ranks high among the priciest neighborhoods in Houston.

In addition to the comfort and security expected from a gated community with a 24-hour guarded entrance and eight miles of masonry walls protecting it, residents here enjoy optional membership to the Royal Oaks Country Club and golf facilities. Resort-style swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and even a regulation-size croquet pitch are just a few of the many luxury amenities offered at the club.

Memorial Villages

Closer to town, along I-10 between Loop 610 and Beltway 8, is a mixed-use residential area collectively known as The Memorial Villages, or simply The Villages. The region comprises several individual communities, each with its own city council and mayor, and each could easily list among the best luxury neighborhoods in Houston in its own right.

Piney Point Village sits in the heart of the area between Blalock and Memorial Drive. Hunters Creek Village is east of Piney Point, extending from I-10 down to Buffalo Bayou, while Bunker Hill Village is the westernmost section, running from Blalock to Gessner. Hedwig Village runs along the south side of I-10, from Voss over to Bunker Hill. And Spring Valley Village and Hilshire Village are located north of the interstate, generally between Wirt and Campbell roads south of Westview Drive.  

Prospective homebuyers can find a variety of properties in the Memorial Villages, including a mix of newer luxury estates and renovated country homes. Homesites throughout The Villages are typically spacious, with lots of mature trees and private backyard amenities. Home prices in these expensive Houston neighborhoods quickly run into the millions, with typical listings at around $2 million or more. 

Residents of The Villages enjoy easy access to nearby Memorial Park, featuring almost 1,500 acres of natural areas and playgrounds, miles of hike and bike trails, and one of the city's most popular public golf courses. The neighborhood is also convenient to an impressive collection of retail shops and restaurants at Memorial City Mall and Town & Country Village. All addresses here are zoned to schools in Spring Branch ISD.

Tanglewood

Southeast of The Memorial Villages is the Houston neighborhood of Tanglewood. With development dating back to the late 40s and 50s, this established section of the city features quiet streets lined with mature oak trees, well-kept original estate properties, and lovingly restored ranch-style homes. Tanglewood is located outside the West Loop, along San Felipe, near Uptown Houston's Galleria area.

The neighborhood features more than a thousand luxury homes across several residential developments. Floorplans throughout Tanglewood range from 2,000 to more than 10,000 square feet, with equally spacious homesites measuring up to an acre. Listings in Tanglewood frequently reach several million dollars, landing it near the top of the list of the most expensive neighborhoods in Houston.

Folks living in the Tanglewood neighborhood have easy access to plenty of amenities throughout the community and surrounding areas. Memorial Park's public golf course is just minutes away inside The Loop, and the nearby private Houston Country Club offers 18 holes of championship golf along scenic Buffalo Bayou. Club amenities include resort-style swimming pools and a world-class tennis complex. Elsewhere, Tanglewood residents enjoy the signature esplanade running through the middle of the neighborhood, connecting with pools, parks, playgrounds, and pathways across the community. 

West University/Southside Place

West University, also known as West University Place or West U for short, has been called the best city to live in America. This established Houston neighborhood is located just inside the West Loop, between Holcombe and the Southwest Freeway. The Southside Place community is found here as well, near Bellaire Boulevard along West U's south side. Much of the area comprises single-family homes in a mix of styles, with some properties first built as far back as the 30s and 40s.

The majority of the 1,600-plus homes in this part of the city are priced in the millions. Both West University homes and Southside Place properties average around 4,000 square feet, with several floorplans of 7,000 square feet and larger found throughout the area. Wooded homesites range up to a quarter of an acre or more and provide ample room for private backyard amenities. 

West U and Southside Place feature an assortment of public parks and playgrounds throughout the area, along with several swimming pools and tennis courts. Neighboring Rice Village offers an abundance of retail shops and restaurants located adjacent to Rice University, and community residents find plenty of activities and attractions at the nearby Houston Zoo and Hermann Park. Sports fans here will also appreciate their close proximity to NRG Stadium, home to the NFL's Houston Texans. 

Afton Oaks

Northwest of West University Place is the inner-loop neighborhood of Afton Oaks, featuring more than 500 luxury homes tucked into the corner of the Southwest Freeway and West Loop 610, across from the Galleria. Developed beginning in the 50s, Afton Oaks comprises a mix of relatively recent new construction homes and renovated ranch-style properties set among the community's tree-lined streets and beautifully landscaped lawns.

Luxury homes in Houston's Afton Oaks neighborhood typically range from around 2,000 to more than 4,000 square feet, though some newer properties feature significantly larger floorplans. The average homesite here runs just under a quarter of an acre, with a limited number of residential lots still available. Recent home sales in Afton Oaks are generally from the $700s into the millions.

The big draw to living in Afton Oaks is the neighborhood's convenient central location. The community spans both Westheimer Road and Richmond Avenue, two of the city's most popular entertainment corridors, and the world-famous Houston Galleria shopping mall is next door. Activities and attractions in H-Town's city center are also just minutes away.

Greenway/Upper Kirby

Just east of Afton Oaks is the Greenway Plaza and Upper Kirby section of the city, spanning both sides of the Southwest Freeway and extending east to Shepherd Drive. This part of Houston is well-known for its eclectic selection of bars and bistros, funky shops, and a robust arts and culture scene. Bordered by Westheimer on the north side, Greenway/Upper Kirby is among the most popular residential and entertainment areas in Houston.

Prospective home buyers will find a wide variety of property types here, including single-family homes, townhomes, and high-rise condominiums. Townhouses and condos in Greenway/Upper Kirby area can be found for under $500,000, but are far more commonly from the $600s to over $1 million, with some high-rise condos reaching the $2 million range. Single-family homes here frequently list in the $600s to $1 million range as well.

Residents of the area live among some of the best things to do in Houston. Golfers find public and private courses nearby at Memorial Park and River Oaks Country Club. Art lovers are close to Houston's Museum District and the Montrose neighborhood to the east. And some of the city's best restaurants, retail opportunities, and entertainment venues are within easy walking distance of the homes here.

Montrose

East of the Greenway Plaza and Upper Kirby area is Houston's Montrose neighborhood, extending north from the Southwest Freeway up to Allen Parkway and Buffalo Bayou. Featuring an eclectic mix of vintage shops, funky dining, and quirky attractions, the pedestrian-friendly community comprises a mix of older 1920s-era estates, recently renovated properties, and modern luxury townhomes.

With such a broad range of real estate across the neighborhood, prices for homes in Montrose vary greatly. Townhouses and condos generally start listing from the $200s up to a million or more, and single-family homes are usually priced well into the millions. Overall, the average residential listing in the area hovers around the mid-$600s.

The Montrose region encompasses parts of Houston's Museum District, notably the world-renowned Menil Collection and the equally-impressive Rothko Chapel. The private University of St. Thomas campus is also located in the neighborhood. Residents here enjoy plenty of parks, playgrounds, and sports fields scattered throughout the area, and quick access to major roads and highways makes for a relatively easy commute anywhere within the Greater Houston metro.

Heights/Greater Heights

The Greater Heights, known simply as The Heights among locals, is another of Houston's most popular neighborhoods. Renowned for its beautifully restored and well-preserved Victorian-style homes, The Heights historic district sits between the North Loop and Interstate 10, stretching west from I-45 to T.C. Jester along White Oak Bayou.

Real estate in The Heights represents a wide range of property types and prices, including new home construction, historical restoration, and various condos and townhomes for sale. Townhouse and condominium units typically start from the $200s, with prices from the $400s to more than $3 million for some single-family homes. Residential lots are also available, starting from the mid-$100s.

The Heights is a very pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, with several parks, swimming pools, tennis courts, and playgrounds within easy walking distance of the homes here. Residents also enjoy a few miles of hiking and biking trails running throughout the White Oak Bayou nature area. Among the community's top attractions is the 1900s-era Heights Theater, one of Houston's preeminent live music venues. Nearby, residents will also find plenty of vintage shops and favorite eats tucked in among the other unique offerings found in the Greater Heights.

Discover Houston's Best Luxury Real Estate

The Greater Houston metro boasts quite a few expensive suburbs with plenty of luxury living options, but it’s equally easy to find attractive high-end homes right here in the inner loop. Prospective home buyers searching the area will find a mix of modern townhouse and condo properties, older restorations and renovations, and plenty of upscale new construction homes—and they all have the benefit of being close to all the action in downtown Houston. Whether you're interested in the conveniences of urban living close to downtown or the laid-back lifestyle of a more suburban community farther from the city, you'll find a luxury home neighborhood in Houston that's perfect for every taste.