Houston’s homicide rate is on the rise, so you should take a look at RoadSnacks’ list of the worst neighborhoods in Houston for 2023 so that you don’t become a statistic.
But first, this is how we created our list. In order to determine Houston’s worst neighborhoods, we had to give each neighborhood an actual concrete score: we’ll call this a neighborhood’s overall ‘Snackability’. To get this score, we looked at the latest census data on income levels, unemployment rates, crime, and home prices for 26 Houston neighborhoods with over 11,000 residents.
As you can imagine, Houston’s worst neighborhoods did not disappoint. Folks, the kind of neighborhoods we’re talking about have carjackings happening in broad daylight, daily robberies, and a bunch of nothing good happens after dark crimes. There are currently 3,500 police officers that patrol Houston, but the city houses 2.3 million residents. Law enforcement is doing their best to clean up the city’s worst neighborhoods, but they can’t be everywhere. Sadly, Houston is one of the only major U.S. cities where crime is on the rise.
We’re not saying that the Space City is all bad. Matter of fact, there’s actually a lot of safe fun to be had in a lot of pretty awesome neighborhoods. For instance, Montrose really brings their A-game with their Montrose Morning Market every Sunday and you definitely shouldn’t miss Greater Height’s Crawfish Festival. But, we’re here to talk about Houston’s worst.
So, want to know what Houston neighborhoods you should avoid if you value your life? Keep reading.
HomeSnacks is not your just your average website. We’ve been researching and ranking states and cities based on all types of criteria for the last five years. We’ve had more than 50 million people read our published articles and we’ve been featured in hundreds of media outlets for our rankings, including this feature by Click 2 Houston. So, yes we know what we’re talking about.
So, what’s the worst neighborhood in Houston for 2023? That would be Far North.
To see what other Houston neighborhoods made this list, take a look below; and if you can’t find what you’re looking for there, head to the bottom.
For more Texas reading, check out:
Table Of Contents: Top 10 | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Houston For 2023
/10
Population: 59,742
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,455
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,698
Median Home Value: $52,586 (worst)
Median Income: $30,316 (worst)
More on Far North: Data
You can probably guess where you’ll find Far North. It sits along the I-45 on the way out of town, just southwest of the airport. Oh, and it’s in the far north of town.
Maybe you need to get even farther north. Far North just doesn’t offer much economic opportunity. The unemployment rate comes in at a relatively healthy 5.5%. However, most of the local jobs pay very little. The median income hovers at a paltry $30,316.
There are some benefits to life in Far North. The area offers a significant amount of retail and commercial spots. At the same time, home prices are cheap, with a median home value of $52,586.
/10
Population: 129,659
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,079
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,631
Median Home Value: $66,156 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $32,777 (2nd worst)
More on Northeast: Data
The people of Houston are a straight-shootin’ bunch. They say what they mean and mean what they say. If you live in the northeast section of the city, well, by golly, the name of your neighborhood is “Northeast.” No fussin’. No confusion.
What will you find in Northeast Houston? You’ve got nearby golf courses, such as the Brock Park Golf Course. Plus, it’s easy to catch a ride out of the city and visit some nature. Lake Houston is just a half hour from the heart of the neighborhood.
The downside? Well, it’s tough to afford those golf green fees with a median income of just $32,777. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate equals 32,777.
/10
Population: 261,757
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,785
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,237
Median Home Value: $97,556 (5th worst)
Median Income: $41,297 (5th worst)
More on Southeast: Data
Here’s another neighborhood with a no-mystery name. Southeast Houston lies southeast of the center of town. It contains many of Houston’s top educational draws. This includes the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Unfortunately, these amenities don’t overcome a sluggish economy. That’s why this neighborhood counts as the number 3 worst spot in Houston for 2023.
To be fair, the numbers here aren’t atrocious…just not particularly impressive. You’ve got an elevated unemployment rate of 6.1% and a mediocre median income of $41,297. At least the median home value sits below the $100,000 mark, meaning its relatively easy for locals to purchase a house.
/10
Population: 87,359
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,352
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,782
Median Home Value: $102,414 (6th worst)
Median Income: $37,480 (4th worst)
More on East End: Data
East End has a long history. You could say that the modern city of Houston grew up around this neighborhood. In the 19th century, Harrisburg served as the capital of Texas when it declared its independence from Mexico. Later on, this portion of the city became an industrial and economic hub.
It still has its share of commercial activity. There is no lack of activities in the East End, from food to shopping to golf at Gus Wortham Golf Course. Still, the area isn’t the economic dynamo of the past. Things have slowed down in the 21st century, making it difficult for locals to find good-paying jobs.
/10
Population: 119,685
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,870
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,556
Median Home Value: $88,419 (4th worst)
Median Income: $34,255 (3rd worst)
More on North: Data
This list also includes an area called “Far North.” Not willing to travel that far? Well, you can compromise. You can only go as far as North Houston. Fair warning, though: do that and you’ll only end up in the number 5 least appealing neighborhood in Houston of 2023.
By now, the problems here should be familiar. Like most of the areas on this list, a murky economy holds the neighborhood back.
In this case, finding a job isn’t the main concern. The unemployment rate clocks in at a reasonable 4.5%. However, the positions available only offer limited wages. North Houston supports a median income of just $34,255.
/10
Population: 108,921
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,056
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,023
Median Home Value: $102,760 (7th worst)
Median Income: $48,850 (8th worst)
More on Southwest: Data
Like football? Rodeos? Then Southwest Houston is the place for you. This section of the city houses NRG Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans. But wait! There’s more! The arena also hosts the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, among many other events.
What happens when you’re not watching quarterbacks or bucking broncos? Should you stick around Southwest Houston? Maybe not. A shaky economy leaves this as the number 5 worst area of Houston for 2023.
The median income comes in at a respectable $48,850. However, you’ll have trouble landing these jobs. The unemployment rate hovers at 7.2%.
/10
Population: 125,992
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,228
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,244
Median Home Value: $83,472 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $42,634 (6th worst)
More on Sugarland: Data
Houston loves to name its neighborhoods after points on the compass. North. Northeast. Southeast. Even Far North. Finally, here’s one with a little more creativity: Sugarland. But it’s still not a sweet place to live.
Technically, a suburb located in the far southwestern section of Houston’s urban sprawl, Sugarland has a number of interesting highlights. You’ll find the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land and the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center.
Great place to take your kids on a day trip. Maybe not an ideal location to raise them permanently. As we’ve seen many times on this list, a weak economy undermines the neighborhood. The median income equals $42,634 and the unemployment rate sits at 6.7%.
/10
Population: 138,832
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,611
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,380
Median Home Value: $132,124 (9th worst)
Median Income: $48,919 (9th worst)
More on Northwest: Data
Reading over the list of neighborhoods on this list, you’d probably get worried about the residents of Houston. Any direction you go, there’s a bad neighborhood. Well, here’s another area of the compass you should try to avoid.
Most of Northwest Houston sits in a triangle formed by I-10, Highway 290 and the Sam Houston Tollway. Meanwhile, Bear Creek Pioneers Park takes up a big chunk of the neighborhood. This gives residents a well-deserved respite from the daily grind.
Unlike some of the other spots on this list, the economy here shows some signs of life. However, it’s not enough to let most of the locals relax. The median income hovers at $48,919 and the unemployment rate equals 5.2%.
/10
Population: 143,203
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 643
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,311
Median Home Value: $121,525 (8th worst)
Median Income: $64,381 (12th worst)
More on Pasadina: Data
Don’t come here for the Rose Bowl. That’s in Pasadena, California, about 1,500 miles to the west. But Pasadina, Texas, has its charms as well. Located southeast of central Houston, the community touches the bay. As part of this water access, it offers attractions like the Bay Area Museum and Armand Bayou Nature Center.
The economy isn’t the main problem here. Locals can expect a median income of $64,381 and an unemployment rate of just 5.0%. However, the area is removed from the central part of town. Located about 20 minutes from downtown, commutes to other parts of the city can get tricky.
/10
Population: 44,356
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,631
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,735
Median Home Value: $216,310 (14th worst)
Median Income: $71,233 (13th worst)
More on Medical: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous Houston neighborhoods in 2023
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in Houston:
- High crime (Estimated)
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Houston, Texas for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”
The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of Houston.
The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2023. This report is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Houston.
Skip to the end to see the list of all 26 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Houston
Well, there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Houston with Far North landing at the bottom of the pack.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Houston aren’t all bad. West University takes the cake as the best place to live in Houston.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more Texas reading, check out:
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods To Live In Houston For 2023?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Far North | 59,742 | $52,586 | $30,316 |
| 2 | Northeast | 129,659 | $66,156 | $32,777 |
| 3 | Southeast | 261,757 | $97,556 | $41,297 |
| 4 | East End | 87,359 | $102,414 | $37,480 |
| 5 | North | 119,685 | $88,419 | $34,255 |
| 6 | Southwest | 108,921 | $102,760 | $48,850 |
| 7 | Sugarland | 125,992 | $83,472 | $42,634 |
| 8 | Northwest | 138,832 | $132,124 | $48,919 |
| 9 | Pasadina | 143,203 | $121,525 | $64,381 |
| 10 | Medical | 44,356 | $216,310 | $71,233 |
| 11 | Spring Branch | 143,332 | $215,498 | $59,660 |
| 12 | Westchase | 34,167 | $221,930 | $48,160 |
| 13 | West Houston | 139,738 | $223,615 | $79,271 |
| 14 | Far Northeast | 90,207 | $191,832 | $90,179 |
| 15 | Meyerland | 69,368 | $194,318 | $73,349 |
| 16 | Bellaire | 186,971 | $153,867 | $55,830 |
| 17 | Montrose | 35,723 | $378,377 | $85,791 |
| 18 | River Oaks | 31,337 | $623,948 | $130,337 |
| 19 | Galleria-Uptown | 67,996 | $406,118 | $90,760 |
| 20 | Rice Military | 23,452 | $382,779 | $118,360 |
| 21 | Downtown | 16,798 | $320,117 | $105,007 |
| 22 | Greater Heights | 46,415 | $504,650 | $133,690 |
| 23 | Midtown | 11,040 | $354,550 | $83,013 |
| 24 | Rice | 16,664 | $600,800 | $131,929 |
| 25 | Greater Memorial | 35,799 | $850,504 | $143,470 |
| 26 | West University | 34,360 | $759,119 | $165,516 |
Spring Branch? Sorry, wrong. Not even close. What do you expect from someone who can’t even spell “Pasadena” lol. Go back to writing romance novels.
Where did you get your info? Median house in Sugar Land $99k? Is there a different Sugar Land than the one in Fort Bend County? Per Zillow the median house in SL is $399,900. I’d also like the address of the picture, cause it looks alike like the basketball court on 59 just north of lyons, not sugar land
Article linked above “10 best suburbs in houston” list Sugar Land #3, yet you say it’s the 7th worse neighborhood in Houston.
I live in sugar land and it’s quit nice!
Learning a lot
I got honkie knifed in sugarland
me too
Sugarland? Spring Branch? You’ve got to be joking. You didn’t even mention the ACTUAL worst neighborhoods… like 3rd Ward, Sunnyside, or Frenchtown. Seriously, have you ever even been to Houston? By the way, it’s spelled “P-A-S-A-D-E-N-A”. There’s no “i”… and besides, Pasadena is it’s own separate incorporated city. Not a neighborhood of Houston proper. Next time, try doing some actual research before you post.
Way way way way way…off.
Neighborhoods are all wrong.
Locations all wrong.
Cutting Houston in four chunks and inside then outside the loop.
East is always worst.
South is always worst
Inside the loop is worst except for southeast and South. There, inside and outside the loop are about the same.
Best hoods are scattered.
Heights, River Oaks, Inwood, Galleria, N. Post Oak, Stafford are some of the best.
West of DT out Washington Ave was very bad but is now completely gentrified.
Inside the loop is mostly worse than outside the loop.
East from DT along I-10 all the way to Channelview is bad bad news and ties for worst with
South from DT all the way to Pasadena.
Most everywhere else is safe day and night.
SW, SE, N, and S are ok day only.
Take care in black hoods unless your black.
Take care in Spanish hoods if your black.
Obviously someone who has never been out of the Katy area. Nice burbs bruh.
What imbecile wrote this?
1. Most of these aren’t “neighborhoods”, they are just vague directional descriptions
2. Almost all of the maps are completely wrong, don’t show the area being described. For instance, “Southwest” shows Crosstimbers at Hardy Toll Road, which is in the Northeast, “Northwest” shows Alief, which is in the Southwest, etc.
3. If you don’t even know how to spell “Pasadena” correctly, why should anyone listen to anything you have to say about Houston area neighborhoods.
The writer did mention this was written partly for “infotainment” but he is way off. Some of the areas he wrote as “bad areas” have good family neighborhoods and schools. He must of never lived in Houston or has all these degrees in research and wrote it just to entertain hisself by reading the comments. Get a REAL life if that’s why you wrote this article. Crime can happen anywhere!
Not knowing anything about Houston, I was surprised by such an extensive list. I have family planning to move there and it appears no place is safe. We will continue to research. Thank you all for your comments.
If you look at murder stats, most murders are committed by someone the victim knew, and in a lot of cases it was the man in the victims life…Houston is on several worst city list but I have met some of the most generous and wonderful people here. I had a problem with someone claiming the North South East West Ne SE Nw Sw were all dangerous but that pretty much is all of Houston so my question then is this…is any city exempt from unemployment, low incomes, low housing values, high crime? I believe every city is a pot pouri of all of it, and that would also include employment, high incomes, high housing values and low crime.
I totally agree with you Kimberly. Them claiming so many general areas of Houston are dangerous sat wrong with me too, especially since I know people from many different areas around the city and seeing all of these regions basically counted as “the worst” came off really mean to me.
Now referring to the author:
I am upset how you compared the “Far North” (which is a whole region) to West U (its own independent city inside of Houston that is extremely affluent) in that paragraph, as that is just so inconsiderate due to all of the “old money” and “new money” people and how West U has many resources to put into their own city compared to a region that is underprivileged.
Saying “not all areas of Houston are bad” then immediately saying West U, an uber privileged area, that’s just not right and unfair, that sentiment sits wrong with me. (I am grateful to live in West U of course but ya know what I mean)
Yeah sure, many of those neighborhoods, more like cardinal directions or regions, you mentioned are not the safest, and yes some areas are unsafe, and some very unsafe. But you don’t have to be so rude about it, especially because there are plenty of good people all over the city in those areas.
I know I don’t have much authority to mention this but, and that’s not even touching on “Law enforcement is doing their best to clean up the city’s worst neighborhoods, but they can’t be everywhere.” As far as I know who is doing a better job of helping these areas are non profits and other community spaces. That is just not the right way to approach more unsafe neighborhoods. I am having trouble expressing how wrong that wish is stated in that way and the feeling behind that sentence from your article.
I technically don’t have much say because I do live in West U, and I am only speaking from personal experience and knowledge, but I felt the urge to share that.
(If anyone from any of these areas of Houston read my comment and disagree or don’t like it or an aspect or part of it, that is ok for sure and that’s on me)