About Houston, TX (Forrest Lake)

Houston was the capital of the independent Republic of Texas until 1846 when the area was annexed and became part of the United States. It still has an independent Wild West nature, now mixed with all the modern conveniences.

Forest Lake subdivision was built up starting in 1974. It is an attractive section in Houston, north of I-10, where the intersection with Highway 290 North runs through it on the way to Jersey Village. Depending on traffic, it is only a few miles north of Memorial Park and about a half-hour's drive from downtown Houston.

Forrest Lake Townhomes is a popular part of this master-planned community built on 22 acres with established hardwood trees and paved walk/bike paths surrounding the 3/4-acre lake in the center. There is a full-sized swimming pool and a children's pool. If you live here, you can enjoy the clubhouse and tennis courts.

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What To Do in Houston, TX

Houston has almost everything you could want. Here are our picks of some nice things to do:

Spa: The highly rated Houstonian Hotel, Club, & Spa is near this area. This is a terrific place to put up visitors or to take personal time out for a day spa experience. It is close to the Galleria and Uptown Park shopping malls, and you can take the kids to Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park.

Park: Memorial Park is next to the Houstonian Hotel. It has jogging trails through lush landscaping and a golf course. Plenty of trees offer shade to beat the intense summer Texan heat. Dogs on a leash are allowed.

Summer Outdoor Activities: T. J. Jester Park has a public swimming pool, a disc golf course, an enclosed dog park, jogging and biking trails, and a nice playground. Dogs are also allowed here.

Museum and Gardens: The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is a lovely place with the Museum of Fine Arts. Decorative arts and American paintings are exhibited in a historic home surrounded by a 14-acre garden.

Destination: Addicks Reservoir is a large park and garden on Houston's western side. It sports a shooting range and an archery club. The reservoir was built to hold extra water during heavy rains and prevent flooding. It has terrific views and is the perfect place to take your dog for a walk.

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Working in Houston, TX

The local economy benefits from construction, tech companies, education, and healthcare. The city's unemployment rate is 8%, which is about double the national average of 4.1%. The median household income is $60,426 per year, about $9,000 less than the American average of $69,021.

The economy is growing slower than the average rate in the rest of the country. Houston's predicted job growth rate for the next ten years is 30.9%, compared to the national growth rate of 33.5%.

Major Industries

• Construction: 11.3%
• Healthcare: 9.5%
• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: 9.3%
• Education: 8.1%
• Hospitality: 7.5%
• Administrative Support/Waste Management: 6.5%
• Finance/Insurance: 3.9%

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Houston, TX Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods in the Forrest Lake area are pleasant and offer comfortable living:

Rosslyn

• Median Real Estate Price: $390,054
• Average Rent: $1,627
• Vacancy Rate: 7.8%

Magnum Manor Park

• Median Real Estate Price: $386,424
• Average Rent: $1,563
• Vacancy Rate: 10.6%

Oak Forest

• Median Real Estate Price: $556,611
• Average Rent: $1,468
• Vacancy Rate: 9%

Houston Central Northwest

• Median Real Estate Price: $544,692
• Average Rent: $1,742
• Vacancy Rate: 4.8%

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Houston, TX School District

The Houston Independent School District administers 276 public schools serving over 196,000 students.

• Investment per Student: $14,515 annually
• Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 16:1

For more information, visit the Houston Independent School District.

Private Schools

There are 71 private schools in the area, including:

• The Gateway Academy (6th to 12th grade)
• St. Jerome Catholic School (K to 8th grade)
• Second Baptist School (PK to 12th grade)

Colleges and Universities

There are 28 colleges and universities within 50 miles of downtown Houston. Top-ranked institutions include:

• University of Houston (public)
• University of St. Thomas (private)
• Rice University (private)

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Moving to Houston, TX Resource Guide

• City Government: The Houston municipal government has an elected mayor and 14 members on the City Council. Visit their website here.
• Parks: The Houston Parks and Recreation Department maintains over 39,500 acres, including 382 parks, 167 green spaces, 125+ miles of hiking/biking trails, and many recreational programs and facilities. Learn more on their official site.

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Houston, TX Housing

• Median Home Sales Price: $327,000 (-2.4% year-over-year)
• Housing Costs: 5% higher than the national average
• Cost of Living: 9% higher than other Texas cities, 1% above the national average
• Market Status: Buyer’s market with more listings than buyers