10 Most Affordable Houston Suburbs to Live In

“Space City,” aka Houston, TX has become a destination for many people relocating to Texas and the Gulf Coast region. With its picturesque skyline and historic museums to the stellar food scene, chili, pecan pie, and Texas BBQ, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that close to 2 million people live in Houston. As more people move to the Houston area, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $315,000 and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Houston is $1,647.

Don’t worry if that price doesn’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home that does. We’ve rounded up a list of the 10 best affordable Houston suburbs to consider living in – and they’re all under a 45-minute drive from the city. That way you can live close to Houston and all its cool activities without paying the price of living there.

#1: Sheldon

Median home price: $168,000
Driving distance from Houston: 20 minutes
Sheldon, TX homes for sale
Sheldon, TX apartments for rent

With a median home sale price nearly $150K less than Houston, Sheldon comes in at number one on our list of most affordable Houston suburbs. About 20 minutes away from downtown Houston, Sheldon is home to roughly 1,900 people. Living in Sheldon, you can spend time exploring Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center, which features a lake and ponds for fishing, wetlands, wildlife watching, and a boat ramp.

#2: Jacinto City

Median home price: $196,000
Driving distance from Houston: 10 minutes
Jacinto City, TX homes for sale
Jacinto City, TX apartments for rent

Jacinto City, our second suburb, is a little more expensive than Sheldon. Only a 10-minute drive from Houston you’ll be exploring the Houston Zoo in no time. Some popular things to do in Jacinto City are visiting the nearby San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. When living in this suburb of about 10,000 people, you can also spend the day exploring the walking trails or having a picnic at Herman Brown Park.

#3: Galena Park

Median home price: $197,750
Driving distance from Houston: 15 minutes
Galena Park, TX homes for sale
Galena Park, TX apartments for rent

Galena Park takes the third spot on our list, with a median home sale price of $197,750 and only a 15-minute drive away from the city. There are plenty of picturesque and outdoorsy activities to take part in when living in Galena Park. If you find yourself moving to this affordable Houston suburb, make sure to visit its namesake park, Galena Park.

#4: South Houston

Median home price: $217,500
Driving distance from Houston: 15 minutes
South Houston, TX homes for sale
South Houston, TX apartments for rent

Only slightly more expensive than Galena Park is South Houston, the next suburb on our list. With roughly 17,000 residents living in this Houston suburb, make sure to stop by the 1940 Air Terminal Museum or Strawberry Park for an afternoon of fun. And weekend trips into downtown Houston won’t take you too long, only about 15 minutes, if you’re lucky to catch a traffic-free drive.

#5: Channelview

Median home price: $239,950
Driving distance from Houston: 15 minutes
Channelview, TX homes for sale
Channelview, TX apartments for rent

About a 15-minute drive into the city, consider adding Channelview to your list of Houston suburbs to consider living in. Home to 43,000 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking to remain close to Houston without paying the price for a home in the city. In Channelview, make sure to take in the views of Bear Lake at Moncrief Park or play a round of golf at River Terrace Golf Course.

#6: Pasadena

Median home price: $240,000
Driving distance from Houston: 20 minutes
Pasadena, TX homes for sale
Pasadena, TX apartments for rent

Another noteworthy Houston suburb is Pasadena, where the home prices are about $75K less than in Houston. Home to roughly 146,000 people, Pasadena is a great suburb to consider living in. Whether you spend the day at Armand Bayou Nature Center or grab a coffee at a local café, there are many cool things to do and see in this suburb.

#7: La Marque

Median home price: $240,000
Driving distance from Houston: 40 minutes
La Marque, TX homes for sale
La Marque, TX apartments for rent

Claiming the seventh spot on our list of affordable Houston suburbs is La Marque, which is almost 40 minutes away from the city center. With a population of about 19,000, La Marque is a great area to live in that’s not nearly as big as Houston. If you’re going to call this area home, plan time to explore Carbide Park or take a short drive to nearby Tiki Island.

#8: Cloverleaf

Median home price: $250,000
Driving distance from Houston: 15 minutes
Cloverleaf, TX homes for sale
Cloverleaf, TX apartments for rent

If you’ve lived in or around Houston for some time, you may know our eighth suburb – Cloverleaf. About 26,000 people reside in Cloverleaf, so you’ll have a fraction of Houston’s population while remaining only 15 minutes from the city. Living in Cloverleaf, be sure to check out the North Shore Rotary Park and brush up on your roller skating skills at The Skate Machine.

#9: Baytown

Median home price: $265,000
Driving distance from Houston: 25 minutes
Baytown, TX homes for sale
Baytown, TX apartments for rent

Moving to Baytown will give you access to downtown Houston in close to 25 minutes – as long as you don’t find yourself in traffic. About 79,000 people live in this suburb, but there are plenty of activities to do in Baytown. Popular things in Baytown include exploring the walking trails or enjoying the bay views at Baytown Nature Center or enjoying the lazy river at Pirates Bay Waterpark.

#10: Bacliff

Median home price: $270,000
Driving distance from Houston: 35 minutes
Bacliff, TX homes for sale
Bacliff, TX apartments for rent

Rounding out our list of affordable Houston suburbs is Bacliff, where the home prices about $45K less than in Houston. Without traffic, you’ll find yourself in Houston in roughly 35 minutes. This suburb has a population of 10,800 residents and is home to the Bayview Equestrian Center and Bayshore Park. There’s plenty to do on an afternoon or weekend while living in Bacliff.

Methodology:

Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Houston and under a 45-minute drive from downtown Houston. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during April 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com May 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.