River Oaks
Sumptuous variety abounds
River Oaks has a long history — this area was the first master-planned community in Houston, originally developed in the 1920s. And it didn’t take long for the area to take on its luxurious reputation. “It has a history of having high-profile residents, but no one is ever too good for anyone else,” says Ingram, a Houston native. Some homes here still date back to the 1920s and 1930s, but River Oaks now has homes of all ages, including quite a few built in the last several years. That makes for a wide assortment of styles — it’s likely that one won’t find two homes that look exactly alike on any one street. There’s everything from colonial-style homes to Tudors to Mediterranean-style homes in River Oaks. Some condos and townhomes in River Oaks can be had for under $1 million, but the single-family homes here can range anywhere from about $1.1 million to more than $14 million, depending on the square footage.Area schools are well-regarded
Kids in River Oaks can attend schools in the Houston Independent School District, which has a B overall rating on Niche. Students can start at the A-minus River Oaks Elementary, whose extracurricular opportunities include the Suzuki violin program that offers violin instruction during the school day. From River Oaks Elementary, students here can progress to the A-minus-rated Lanier Middle, the only school in the district with both the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and the Vanguard Magnet gifted program. Lamar High, which has a B-plus grade, is next, a school that received a $122 million redesign in recent years that included a new 8,000-square-foot pool, a 4,000-square-foot theater and a new football field.The River Oaks neighborhood features multiple well-regarded private schools as well, including the A-plus-rated St. John's School. St. John’s offers kindergarten through 12th grade and is No. 1 on Niche’s list of the best private high schools in Texas.
River Oaks comes with parks aplenty
River Oaks is quite walkable, thanks to the sidewalks that line every street. “It’s not uncommon to see people walking their dogs, riding their bikes or families taking walks together,” Ingram says. River Oaks is littered with multiple pocket parks, too, so residents all over the neighborhood can enjoy just a short stroll to one for a picnic or game of fetch with Fido. River Oaks Park is a popular pick in particular, one with a playground that includes a replica of Cinderella's carriage, a feature that’s earned the space the nickname of “Pumpkin Park.” River Oaks Community Center is also nestled in River Oaks Park, a facility whose offerings include an afterschool program.The neighborhood is home to the River Oaks Country Club as well, which has what is considered one of the best golf courses in Texas and a lengthy waitlist. The 1,500-acre Memorial Park, the largest urban park in the state, is just north of River Oaks, and its features include a public golf course.
Historic retail options
Locals here enjoy quick access to the River Oaks Shopping Center, which was the first suburban shopping center of its kind when it opened in 1937. River Oaks Shopping Center features some 300,000 square feet of retail space with stores ranging from Barnes & Noble to Sephora and local restaurants like the French-inspired Brasserie 19 and Izakaya Wa, serving up Japanese cuisine. There’s even a Kroger here, convenient for groceries and other essentials. River Oaks Shopping Center is located just off Shepherd Drive, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the area, along with Westheimer Road — both loaded with eateries and other businesses.Move around with METRO
River Oaks features multiple stops on the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County bus system. Known as METRO for short, this system features more than 100 routes and almost 9,000 stops around the city.The neighborhood is fairly close to Downtown Houston, too. Drivers in River Oaks can hop on Allen Parkway to get downtown in a trip of just about 5 miles, without even having to get on the highway.
Light up the night
One of the neighborhood’s traditions is River Oaks Christmas Lights — residents around the neighborhood decorate their homes with elaborate light displays available for viewing from Thanksgiving to early January. It’s one of the most well-known collections of Christmas lights in the city. “It’s so beautiful during Christmastime,” Ingram says. “Every street is lit up with thousands of lights.”

Agents Specializing in this Area
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Karlie Jacobs
Great Western Realty
(346) 770-1685
89 Total Sales
1 in River Oaks
$590,000 Price
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Sharlene Abghary
Urban Access Properties
(430) 803-1939
96 Total Sales
3 in River Oaks
$238K - $980K Price Range
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Allen Markel
Texas Premier Realty
(469) 838-5234
92 Total Sales
1 in River Oaks
$262,500 Price
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Terri Lockler
Brooks Ballard International Real Estate
(832) 479-3698
34 Total Sales
2 in River Oaks
$450K - $485K Price Range
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Ziad Al Kayali
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Premier Realty
(346) 998-5064
395 Total Sales
1 in River Oaks
$620,000 Price
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Adaline (Addy) Werthwein
RE/MAX Integrity
(346) 703-8443
84 Total Sales
1 in River Oaks
$675,000 Price
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | River Oaks | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 2 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
Robbery | 3 | 4 |
Burglary | 6 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 4 |
Larceny | 7 | 4 |
Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
River Oaks Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in River Oaks, Houston sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in River Oaks, Houston over the last 12 months is $324,500, down 21% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Sunday, Jul 272 - 3:30pm
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Sunday, Jul 271 - 3pm
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Saturday, Jul 262 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Some Transit
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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