West University

Known locally as West U, is one of the most popular areas to live inside the 610 loop.

Welcome to West University

West University Place, known locally as West U, is one of the most popular areas to live inside the 610 loop. It is actually a city within the City of Houston and as such has it's own police and fire department, city offices, council and services. Families flock to this neighborhood for the highly ranked West U Elementary School, multiple parks and amenities but you'll find residents of all ages live here. Given it's proximity to the Texas Medical Center, it's very popular with medical employees. West U is known for it's small town community feel and you'll often see people out walking or jogging and the kids riding their bikes.
 

SEARCH TIPS

Use West University Elementary (although this pulls in some sections that are not part of West U City)
 
Use 77005 (this also pulls in some sections east of Rice Village which are not part of West U City)
 

HISTORY

In 1910, the area where West U sits today was nothing more than a muddy swamp. Ben W Hooper, then Governor of Tennessee bought up the tract of land which was then parceled and sold in 1917 by AD Foreman of the West End Realty Company. The proximity to Rice University gave the area the name and subsequent streets were named after universities across the nation. By 1924, when the City of Houston refused to bring utilities to the area, Foreman spent $100,000 of his own money to invest in the area. Eventually, residents, dissatisfied with muddy streets and inadequate amenities, worked to turn West University into its own City. Over the years small-town governance and civic-minded residents have continued to work to turn what West U is in the present day. The proximity to major commercial and transportation hubs has resulted in property prices growing with land in West U being some of the most valuable in the greater Houston area.
 

BOUNDARIES

West U is bordered by Holcombe Boulevard to the south, Kirby to the East, the railroad tracks in the west, and mostly Bissonet to the north. A small section of West U known as the Chimney sits north of Bissonet where the boundary sits along the middle of Law Street. Southside Place is tucked in the middle of West U but is its own City with its own amenities. It still zones into West U Elementary though.
 

POPULATION, LOCATION AND COMMUTE

West U is home to around 15,000 residents. It is so close to the Medical Center that some people cycle there. But the drive is 5-10 mins. Downtown is under 15 minutes. The Energy Corridor is a reverse commute and is about 25 minutes outside of peak traffic. The 59 can easily be accessed from the north of West U whereas residents in the south will jump on the 610 from Bellaire Boulevard.
 

NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS

  • Southside Place
  • Braeswood, Bellaire
  • Southampton
  • Southgate
  • Boulevard Oaks
 

HOME STYLES

Single-family homes dominate thanks to strict zoning and West U-specific building codes. Historically the area was mostly pre-war cottages. Some have been renovated but given the land value, most are torn down and larger homes are built in their place. You'll find a mix of homes from all ages - timeless brick homes, more modern stucco homes, and homes clad with hardy siding. The older the home, the smaller they tend to be. New construction has to maximize the build size given the land cost so the smallest new construction can be around 3800sf. Townhomes and patio homes are available but tend to line to the outer edges. There are no apartments in West U but some of the nearby apartments zone into West U Elementary.
 
 
A classic West U brick home.
 

AMENITIES

West U has its own small city center home to a few restaurants including the famous Tinies and Little Matts. There is even a very cool hole-in-the-wall Coffee Bar run by Tinies.
 
There are several parks, some with tennis courts, a summer pool and splash park, and a Recreation Center which has a pool open to residents year-round. 
 
Rice Village is walkable for many residents where you'll find an abundance of places to eat, have coffee, and shop including West Elm, Gap, Banana Republic, and more.
 
West U has its own Little League which is hugely popular. The Galleria is about 10 minutes away, one of the largest shopping malls in the US.
 
 
Tinies is a local favorite with it's hole in the wall coffee bar. Kids cycle here to get cookies and ice-cream
 
 
Colonial Park is one of several amazing parks in West U. Each year, a gala is held by the community to raise funds for the parks and is one of the reasons they remain so beautifully maintained. 
 

SCHOOLS

  • West University Elementary is one of the highest ranked elementary schools in all of Texas and a big draw for families moving to the area.
  • Pershing Middle School
  • Lamar High School.
  • Nearby private schools include St Johns, AOS, Presbyterian, St Marks, St Agnes and Strake Jesuit 

HOME PRICES

Land in West U ranges from around 80-170psf so the lot size can make a significant difference to the price of any home. The minimum lot size is 5000sf where you'll find 3-4 bed homes around 3000-3800sf price upwards of 1.1m for an unrenovated home built in the 80's. A larger, updated home can easily be 1-5-1.6. New construction on this lot size is currently selling in the 1.9m's. The median home price is around 1.6m. Townhomes are available in the 400-800k range,

Rentals can range from around $2500 pm for a small cottage to upwards of $10,000 pm for a larger, updated modern home. A budget of $5-7k should get you a decent sized 4 bed rental in West U.

Overview for West University, TX

14,975 people live in West University, where the median age is 41.3 and the average individual income is $128,050. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

14,975

Total Population

41.3 years

Median Age

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

$128,050

Average individual Income

Around West University, TX

There's plenty to do around West University, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.

56
Somewhat Walkable
Walking Score
44
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score

Points of Interest

Explore popular things to do in the area, including Chilled Coco, Allen Johnson Formal Wear, and Bercutt Physical Therapy & Wellness Center.

Name Category Distance Reviews
Ratings by Yelp
Chilled Coco Logo
Dining 3.1 miles 8 reviews 5/5 stars
Allen Johnson Formal Wear Logo
Shopping 4.7 miles 7 reviews 5/5 stars
Bercutt Physical Therapy & Wellness Center Logo
Active 0.74 miles 10 reviews 5/5 stars
Motus Physical Therapy & Wellness Logo
Active 1.22 miles 7 reviews 5/5 stars
Heart Space Collaborative Logo
Active 3 miles 23 reviews 5/5 stars
Every Minute Stronger Logo
Active 3.99 miles 5 reviews 5/5 stars

Demographics and Employment Data for West University, TX

Population Households Employment

West University has 5,222 households, with an average household size of 2.87. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in West University do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 14,975 people call West University home. The population density is 7,472.28 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

14,975

Total Population

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

41.3

Median Age

49.65 / 50.35%

Men vs Women

Population by Age Group

0-9:

0-9 Years

10-17:

10-17 Years

18-24:

18-24 Years

25-64:

25-64 Years

65-74:

65-74 Years

75+:

75+ Years

Education Level

  • Less Than 9th Grade
  • High School Degree
  • Associate Degree
  • Bachelor Degree
  • Graduate Degree
5,222

Total Households

2.87

Average Household Size

$128,050

Average individual Income

Households with Children

With Children:

Without Children:

Marital Status

Married
Single
Divorced
Separated

Blue vs White Collar Workers

Blue Collar:

White Collar:

Commute Time

0 to 14 Minutes
15 to 29 Minutes
30 to 59 Minutes
60+ Minutes

Schools in West University, TX

All ()
Primary Schools ()
Middle Schools ()
High Schools ()
Mixed Schools ()
The following schools are within or nearby West University. The rating and statistics can serve as a starting point to make baseline comparisons on the right schools for your family. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Type
Name
Category
Grades
School rating

Property Listings

Pending
MLS® 38218810
MLS #: 38218810

$3,799,000

3757 Plumb Street, West University Place, TX 77005
5 Beds 7 Baths 5,398 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 15991012
MLS #: 15991012

$3,650,000

3755 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005
4 Beds 5 Baths 5,119 Sq.Ft.
Pending
MLS® 41059478
MLS #: 41059478

$3,599,000

3732 Rice Boulevard, West University Place, TX 77005
5 Beds 7 Baths 5,165 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 96319700
MLS #: 96319700

$3,500,000

3123 University Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,748 Sq.Ft.
Pending
MLS® 5900836
MLS #: 5900836

$3,499,000

3308 Rice Boulevard, West University Place, TX 77005
4 Beds 5 Baths 5,011 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 13292245
MLS #: 13292245

$3,499,000

6319 Westchester Avenue, West University Place, TX 77005
4 Beds 5 Baths 5,117 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 62275539
MLS #: 62275539

$3,450,000

3201 University Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005
4 Beds 5 Baths 7,040 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 42850103
MLS #: 42850103

$3,249,000

6535 Buffalo Speedway, West University Place, TX 77005
6 Beds 6 Baths 8,312 Sq.Ft.
Pending
MLS® 72152926
MLS #: 72152926

$2,699,000

3202 University Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005
3 Beds 4 Baths 4,149 Sq.Ft.

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Contact Details

Tatiana Kirilenko

Phone

(832) 567-9548

Email

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Address

24044 Cinco Village Center Blvd, Suite 150 Katy, TX 77494

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