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Cost of living, pay and housing

29.72° N · 95.43° W · GEOID 4877956

West University Place

Harris County, Texas · part of the Houston, TX metro

Computed by Citytistics from 13 public sources · Data bundle checked 2026-11-14 · How we calculate

TexasWest University Place, TXWest University PlaceWest University Place

The short answer

West University Place is home to 14,982 people. Median household income is $250,001 a year and median rent is $3,501 a month, 16.8% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $1,472,000, about 5.9x annual median household income.

What sets West University Place apart is how far household money goes. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $213,500 a year, more than in 99% of places its size. It is the 3rd-highest of 329 Texas places we track. Also notable: Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 10.8% to 16.8% of income.

82OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

West University Place scores better than 82% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 43rd of 407 in Texas.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%47
Economy 20%66
Safety 20%75
Amenities 15%41
Education 10%100
Commute 10%83
Growth 5%13
Median gross rent
$3,501
156% above the median place
Median household income
$250,001
211% above the median place
Median home value
$1,472,000
361% above the median place
Unemployment
5.9%
20% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about West University Place

  • Value for moneyHome values are about 51% higher than we would expect for a place with these incomes, education levels, housing age and household types in the same metro area. The premium usually reflects location, amenities or schools that these figures do not capture. Experimental
01

Moving to West University Place

Harris County loses about 5.7 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in164,963
Moved out186,178
Net−21,215

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Fort Bend County, TX21,45829,268−7,810
Montgomery County, TX13,36525,206−11,841
Brazoria County, TX6,3179,828−3,511
Galveston County, TX6,0428,050−2,008
Travis County, TX3,3024,282−980
Dallas County, TX3,1063,309−203
Liberty County, TX6,072
Bexar County, TX2,8813,032−151

Within Texas, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within TexasOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$75K
Leavers$83K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Harris County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
3.1% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.8% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Harris County report $75,000 a year in income on average; those leaving, $83,300, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$140,000 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $3,501 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $4,001 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $1,472,000.
Getting to work
20 minutes each way on average; 23.4% work from home; 2.0% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Highland Park, TX matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
3.1%
45% below the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
-5.7
below the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving out7
$83,269
18% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureWest University PlaceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year13.1%45% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.8%10% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-5.7below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$74,9596% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$83,26918% above
02

What it costs to live here

Rent is about 38% higher than we would expect for a place with these incomes, education levels, housing age and household types in the same metro area. The premium usually reflects location, amenities or schools that these figures do not capture.

West University Place16.8%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$140,040
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
16.8%
18% below the median place
Home price to income
5.9x
55% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
17%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$213,500
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in West University Place, $3,501 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like West University Place, but easier on the budget

Places that match West University Place on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Highland Park, TX849.3% vs 16.8%$13,100Compare
New Albany, OH7911.9% vs 16.8%$3,000Compare
Hinsdale, IL719.2% vs 16.8%$9,300Compare
Cherry Hills Village, CO6010.5% vs 16.8%$16,300Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in West University Place.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to West University Place? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median home value1
$1,472,000
361% above the median place
Homeownership1
93.3%
41% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$4,001
114% above the median place
All 14 cost and housing measures
MeasureWest University PlaceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$3,501156% above
Rent to income116.8%18% below
Home price to income15.9x55% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure98.62% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,4977% below
Property tax paid (median)1$10,001206% above
Median home value1$1,472,000361% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure0.6%81% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure30.7%40% below
Homeownership193.3%41% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure53.8%6% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$4,001114% above
Vacant homes13.8%46% below
Median year built119921% above
03

Work and pay

Compared with the 18 places most like it in size, age, education, housing and region (such as Bellaire, TX, Trophy Club, TX and Franklin Park, PA), unemployment here is higher: 5.9% against a typical 2.9%.

Income per person1
$151,767
279% above the median place
Poverty rate1
1.7%
84% below the median place
Median household income1
$250,001
211% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Works from home23.4% +88%
Mean commute20 min −21%
Unemployment5.9% +20%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureWest University PlaceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$250,001211% above
Income per person1$151,767279% above
Unemployment15.9%20% above
Average annual pay5County figure$91,49139% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.3%11% below
Jobs5County figure2,458,604above (median 150,665)
Poverty rate11.7%84% below
Mean commute120 min21% below
Works from home123.4%88% above
Commutes by transit1County figure2.0%139% above
04

Who lives here

Bachelor's or higher is 90.4%, 182% above the median place.

Bachelor's or higher1
90.4%
182% above the median place
Homes with broadband1
99.4%
8% above the median place
High school or higher1
99.2%
7% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

No health insurance3.0% −53%
Household size2.9 +16%
Born abroad16.8% +90%
Median age41.2 +6%
All 9 people measures
MeasureWest University PlaceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population114,9822986th largest
Population change since 202060.7%36% below
Median age141.26% above
Bachelor's or higher190.4%182% above
High school or higher199.2%7% above
Household size12.916% above
Born abroad116.8%90% above
No health insurance13.0%53% below
Homes with broadband199.4%8% above
05

Life in West University Place

The nearest National Park Service site is Big Thicket National Preserve, about 86 miles away.

Founded or incorporated in 1917. 311 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents12.0 +18%
Playgrounds per 10k13.3 +42%
Grocery stores per 10k1.3 −37%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k6.0 −46%
Libraries per 10k1.3 +53%
Named paths and bike trails3 km +55%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Big Thicket National Preserve 86 miles
  • El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail 144 miles
  • Waco Mammoth National Monument 167 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.7 −0%
Shops28.1 −7%
Arts, recreation and fitness2.7 −34%
Doctors' offices and clinics22.5 +11%
Child care centers2.1 −9%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
85.6
178% above the median place
Public school students13
885,618
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools13
1,167
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureWest University PlaceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13County figure1,167above (median 9)
Public school students13County figure885,618above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher13County figure15.51% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure20.70% below
Shops per 10k8County figure28.17% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure2.734% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure22.511% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.19% below
Parks per 10k912.018% above
Playgrounds per 10k913.342% above
Grocery stores per 10k91.337% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k96.046% below
Libraries per 10k91.353% above
Named paths and bike trails93.155% above
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1085.6178% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles100below (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure311above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 33, 83% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
33
83% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
1,060
13% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Tornado risk15
100.0
23% above the median place
Hurricane risk15
100.0
42% above the median place
Natural hazard risk15
99.9
8% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureWest University PlaceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure93°F7% above
January average low14County figure44°F73% above
Average temperature14County figure70°F27% above
Annual precipitation14County figure53.5 in22% above
Natural hazard risk15County figure99.98% above
Hurricane risk15County figure100.042% above
Tornado risk15County figure100.023% above
Wildfire risk15County figure85.440% above
Heat wave risk15County figure99.711% above
Median air quality index16County figure6244% above
Good air days16County figure11.0%84% below
08

West University Place in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 18% of the median income in 2030, up from 17% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, West University Place does better than 44% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 15%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$3,501/mo (2024)$4,550/mo$3,730 to $5,540/mo+4.5%
Median household income$250,001 (2024)$309,000$261,500 to $366,000+3.6%
Median home value$1,472,000 (2024)$2,057,000$1,493,000 to $2,834,000+5.7%
Population15,158 (2025)15,39014,760 to 16,040+0.3%

The median home would be worth 6.7 years of the median income in 2030, against 5.9 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like West University Place

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Great Falls, VA$3,501$250,001Compare
Noroton, CT$3,501$250,001Compare
McLean, VA$3,422$250,001Compare
Short Hills, NJ$3,126$250,001Compare
Short Hills, NJMcLean, VANoroton, CTGreat Falls, VAWest University Place, TXWest University PlaceGreat FallsNorotonMcLeanShort HillsWest University PlaceGreat FallsNorotonMcLeanShort Hills

Compare West University Place with

Places built like West University Place

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how West University Place performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
West University Place, TX16.8%0.0%/yr0.7%
Bellaire, TX13.1%3.4%/yr1.4%Compare
Trophy Club, TX11.9%6.4%/yr-0.2%Compare
Franklin Park, PA15.8%5.6%/yr-3.3%Compare
Highland Park, TX9.3%3.4%/yr-1.1%Compare
Lantana, TX20.8%6.2%/yrn/aCompare
New Albany, OH11.9%3.2%/yr5.7%Compare

Common questions

Is West University Place a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 82 out of 100, better than 82% of the places we rate and 43rd of 407 in Texas. Home values are about 51% higher than we would expect for a place with these incomes, education levels, housing age and household types in the same metro area. The premium usually reflects location, amenities or schools that these figures do not capture. On cost, space and class size it scores 93 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is West University Place expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 16.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $1,472,000.

What salary do you need to live in West University Place?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $140,040 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is West University Place safe?

There were 33 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to West University Place?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Great Falls, VA, Noroton, CT, McLean, VA and Short Hills, NJ.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares West University Place with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for West University Place itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/west-university-place-texas

Citytistics. “West University Place, Texas.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/west-university-place-texas/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.