Centrally located next to downtown and between three of the largest freeways in Houston, Midtown Houston is a great place for professionals and students. Midtown’s Official Website describes the area as a “pedestrian-oriented urban community uniquely positioned in the heart of the city.”
Life and Work in Midtown, Houston. Getting to and from work in Midtown is a breeze. The area hosts three Metro stations and includes the Metro Lightrail line on Main Street with three stops, so public transportation can be used rather than the resident’s own vehicle. However, easy access to every major freeway in Houston via SH 288, I-45, or US 59 make commuting almost anywhere easy. Midtown is a few minutes from Downtown Houston and the Medical Center, so jobs abound. Midtown also has the feel, look, and convenience of downtown Houston with a bit less traffic and more two way streets, so getting to work is simple. Professionals find Midtown appealing because of its central location and convenient access to major business centers such as these.
Housing Options in Midtown. Midtown is home to some of the most modern and convenient home sites in Houston. The majority of Midtown housing is made of apartments, townhomes, and condominiums. The aesthetics of Midtown homes vary greatly. Townhomes and condominiums are found in small and medium sized complexes, some made of classic brick, others of timeless stone, and many of modern stucco of all styles and colors. Homes often are built upward and laid in rows in Midtown, and they are made with space efficiency in mind. A popular building style is to stack the home on top of a one or two car garage. Midtown is also known for its urban lofts, which are covered with industrial metal on the outside and feature matching metal finishes on the inside. These lofts look unique and most often are seen in red, gray, and blue.
Going to School? Live in Midtown! Midtown, Houston is just a few miles away from five major universities and colleges in Houston, with a total enrollment of over 50,000 students. These universities include the Houston Community College System, the University of Houston (Main Campus and Downtown locations), Texas Southern University, the University of St. Thomas, and professional schools such as the South Texas School of Law and the Houston branch of the University of Texas Medical Center. Midtown is great for full time students who need a place close to school and part time students who may work in the area. If a resident is looking to transition careers or move up in his or her current one, and needs a degree or certification, Midtown’s location provides convenient access to many college campuses.
Educating the kids in Midtown. Children and teens in Midtown Houston go to schools in the Houston Independent School District system. Students in elementary school are zoned to Blackshear, MacGregor Elementary School, or Gregory-Lincoln Education Center. Gregory-Lincoln also serves middle school students who live north of US 59 in Midtown. This area includes almost all the Midtown neighborhood, but students in Midtown living south of US 59 are zoned to Ryan Middle School. High schools in the area include Lamar High School, located in Upper Kirby, and Reagan High School, located in the Houston Heights. Parents must look into other neighborhoods to find private schools for their children in Midtown, but there are a few public alternatives to HISD in the neighborhood. Houston Community College’s Central Campus, in the heart of Midtown, hosts the Houston International Studies High School. The Contemporary Learning Center and the Houston CAN! Academy Main are public schools in Midtown that are not affiliated with HISD. The CAN! Academy is a charter school.
Community fun in Midtown. Relaxing and staying connected to friends and neighbors is easy in Midtown, 
Houston. The certified open-air Midtown Farmer’s Market happens on Saturday mornings and features free cooking classes, organic and locally grown coffee, freshly cut flowers, and more, all so close to home. Midtown’s Fannin Street is known for its pretty row of flower shops, located just a few minutes from Hermann Park. Other parks in the area include Midtown Park, funded by local corporations and businesses, Elizabeth Baldwin Park and Peggy’s Point Plaza Park, both funded by the City of Houston. The Baldwin Park is over a century old and features a Vietnamese Heritage Plaza. Another special feature of the community is The Ensemble Theater, the largest African-American theater company in the United States. Its studio is located in Midtown. Other close attractions include the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and the Houston Fire Museum.
Nights in Midtown. Midtown is a great place to unwind. Its restaurants are some of the best in Houston and tend to be more affordable than similar ones in Downtown. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck is an Irish-style pub on Norfolk that often hosts live music and sports nights. A jazzy café on Taft Street, Gravitas is a quasi-Italian steakhouse restaurant and wine bar that features a happy hour that runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and has its own menu. Charivari, a European specialty cuisine restaurant on Bagby Street, is run by a Romanian man and his German wife, and hosts unique dishes. Also nearby is the Highland Village, where classics like Smith and Wollensky can be found. Of course, local almost fast food favorites like Beck’s Prime are everywhere. Midtown is also a great bar and club scene. Wine bars are common. Clubs such as the Continental Club on Main Street often host independent music acts. The Continental, like others, has an outdoor patio and pool tables as a retreat from the music. The Tasting Room on Gray Street is a hugely popular wine and beer bar in the area. These are just a few places to unwind in the area, and Midtown’s layout makes any attraction in the area close to your home.
Midtown Houston is a great neighborhood for modern and professional living. Click here to view pictures of housing sites and attractions in the area.