With an area of 2.0 square miles and a population a little over 14,000, West University is a gorgeous little city in Houston’s Harris County, Texas. Surrounded by the city of Bellaire and metropolitan Houston, West University is its own city, but it has a tightly knit neighborhood feeling.
The Place and the People. West University Place was founded in 1917 by Ben Cooper, a Tennessee governor. Its name originates from its proximity to Rice University, which borders the city. About 70% of the families in West U. are married couples living together, and 43% of all households in the city have children under the age of 18 living with them*. Only 1.7% of the total population of West University is at or below the poverty line. In fact, West University Place is the 8th wealthiest area by per capita income in the state of Texas, with an average family income of almost $160,000. The city consistently maintains its affluent reputation.
Housing. When people think of West University, they typically imagine homes ranging from 1950’s bungalows and cottages to stately Georgian homes, with spacious streets lined by mature trees. In this affluent area, the average price for single family home sales was $909,846 in 2009 – the 2nd highest price in metropolitan Houston. After changes liberalized development rules that in 1992, a building boom occurred and construction of new custom built homes is sprinkled in beside the older traditional homes. A result of this development change has been an increase in families and younger couples moving into the neighborhood. Despite the recent building bubble, about half of the homes in the city were built before 1950. Many people who move into the area choose to retain the historic atmosphere; restoration of older homes is common in some neighborhoods, such as Pemberton, located south of University Drive. Lot sizes range from about 5,000 to 15,000 square feet and homes range from one to three stories.
Work from West U. Despite its quiet, residential location, West University Place is centrally located in the heart of Houston and has easy access to major freeways and business centers, not to mention optional scenic neighborhood commute. The city is served by six Metro bus lines. The average travel time to work from a resident’s home in West University is lower than the Houston and Harris county average; about ¾ of the residents spend less than 30 minutes commuting one way. Approximately 5% of adults in West University, higher than the average for Houston and Harris County, work from home.
Safe and Secure Living. Community involvement in civics and safety is regular in this small city. On the same day that the city of Bellaire, Texas passed a ban on texting while driving, West University Place voted to do the same. In 
addition, anyone speaking on a mobile phone near West U. Elementary School during school hours receives a $500 fine from the city. West University Place has its own police station, fire department, and municipal building, which are funded by West University Place, not the city of Houston. The West U. Fire Department and Police Department are centrally located at 3800 University Blvd. and 3814 University Blvd., respectively. The city has extremely low crime rates (especially low rates for those affected by violent crimes) in comparison with the rest of the city of Houston and Harris County.
Education. West University Place lies within the bounds of the Houston Independent School District. West University Elementary School and The Rice School (k-8) serve most children in the neighborhood. In addition, a few pre-school options are available, such as Beehive (a branch of West U. Elementary) and the Gabriela Mistral Early Childhood 
Center. As long as a student is eligible to utilize HISD’s preschool services, parents may choose any preschool in the city of West University. Parents can also choose for their children either Pershing Middle School or Pin Oak Middle School (a National Blue Ribbon School since 2008). Lamar High School, which offers Advanced Placement classes and an IB (International Baccalaureate) Degree Programme, is the public high school in HISD serving West University teens. Parents also have the choice of a number of private schools, both religiously affiliated and not. Private schools include The Post Oak School (k-8), St. Mark’s Episcopal School (k-8), St. John’s School, Episcopal High School, and the School of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Houston Community College or the University of Houston are public institutions near West University that residents may attend, and Rice University, a secular but private school, borders the city.
Recreation. West University Place has its own Recreation Center, which 
was converted from a Houston YMCA. In 2008, the city received a grant of almost $9 million to build a new recreation center. In addition, pools are being added to some of West University’s parks, which include Colonial Park, Whitt Johnson Park, Judson Park, Friends Park (formerly Rice Pocket Park), Huffington Park, and more. The closest movie theater to the city is the Edwards Cinema 24 Grand Palace in Upper Kirby, and there is one bar in the city, called the Marquis II. The city is less than twenty minutes from the Galleria, but the closest shopping center is the Rice Village, a cute outdoor mall with ample restaurants, salons, boutiques, large retail chains, cafes and pubs, office buildings, drug stores, and even grocery stores.
The Community. The city is full of little quirks, such as the names of its street signs – almost all of them are allusions to famous colleges, universities, authors, and poets. Residents like to keep connected; besides the information in the Houston Chronicle, residents can subscribe to the West University Examiner and Village News, which cover news and are distributed locally. A free magazine advertising local services and businesses, featuring people in the community, announcing events, and more is the West University Buzz. The magazine is mailed to residents and costs nothing. Established in 1949, the West University Little League team is now the largest in the United States. It features a Challenger Division, which helps physically and/or mentally disabled children participate in the games and form its own team. The Harris County Public Library system has a branch in West University. The American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity International, and other non-profit and charitable organizations have local chapters for West University Place. There are also multiple organizations to keep the city as green as possible.
Click here to visit the community’s website and see what’s going on in West University Place.
Click here to view more photos of the neighborhood and its homes.
*Demographic data from the 2000 United States Census.