Woodland Heights Neighborhood Guide
A 1907 streetcar suburb of bungalows and live oak-lined streets, minutes from Downtown
Woodland Heights home sales, last 12 months: 113 homes sold, at a typical price around $873,000 (October 2025 through September 2026). Source: HAR MLS closed sales. Data as of October 2026.
Property taxes: A $873,000 home here pays about $18,640 a year at current rates, or about $13,760 with the homestead exemption. See how the homestead exemption works. Data as of October 2026.
921 reviews and ratings across five sites as of October 30, 2026: Google 216 (5.0), Zillow 153 (5.0), Yelp 147 (4.9), RateMyAgent 56 (5.0), HAR 349 surveys (4.99).
Historic homesWalkable streetsParks & trailsClose to DowntownStrong community
Updated November 5, 2026
Living in Woodland Heights
Woodland Heights sits on high ground just north of Downtown and White Oak Bayou, between the Houston Heights and Near Northside. The William A. Wilson Realty Company opened it in 1907 as a streetcar suburb on the Houston Avenue line, with water and sewer to every lot, graded streets and shade trees, including the live oaks that still line Bayland Avenue. Most homes date from 1907 to 1925: Queen Anne cottages, Craftsman bungalows, English cottages and foursquares. Compean Group's office is close by on W. Patton St.
Why buyers choose Woodland Heights
- Historic character. Early-1900s homes on tree-lined streets, with part of the neighborhood protected as a City of Houston historic district. It's also one of the very few areas of town where you have elevation changes in the terrain as you get closer to the bayou, especially as you go south on Reagan St towards White Oak Dr.
- Close to Downtown. About 2.4 miles to Downtown, with quick access to I-45, I-10 and Houston Avenue.
- Woodland Park. A city park with trails along Little White Oak Bayou, a playground and open lawns, plus the White Oak Bayou trail system nearby.
- Neighborhood school. Travis Elementary, on land the original developers deeded for a school, sits inside the neighborhood (Houston ISD; check zoning for each address).
- Food and music nearby. Restaurants and bars on Houston Avenue, North Main and Studewood, and concerts at White Oak Music Hall on the bayou.
What's in and near Woodland Heights
- Woodland Park and the Little White Oak Bayou trail
- Travis Elementary (Houston ISD)
- White Oak Music Hall
- Restaurants along White Oak Dr, Houston Avenue, North Main and Studewood
- The Houston Heights, Near Northside and Downtown next door
Where to eat and shop in Woodland Heights
Woodland Heights is small and mostly residential, but good food sits right on its edges. Pinkerton's Barbecue on Airline Drive holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its beef ribs and prime brisket. Along Studewood Street, the neighborhood's western edge, Sushi By The Heights serves sushi, sashimi and robata, and next door Spice in Heights opened in 2026 with Mediterranean, Levantine and North African plates from chef Kausik Roy. Just across I-45 beside White Oak Music Hall, White Oak Social is a two-acre patio bar with brick-oven pizza, burgers and a kids menu. Back on Airline Drive, Alturas Mexican Cafe is a family-owned spot cooking east-central Mexican dishes that opened in February 2026 and landed on Texas Monthly's list of top Texas taquerias.
Shopping is independent and close by. Kaboom Books on Houston Avenue is a used bookstore with more than 100,000 titles that also buys and trades. Buchanan's Native Plants, a few blocks west on East 11th Street, has sold Texas native plants and organic gardening supplies since 1986.
Getting around
| Destination | Distance | Drive time (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Houston | 2.4 mi | about 4 min; 6–8 min at rush hour |
| Texas Medical Center | 7.7 mi | about 12 min; 18–24 min at rush hour |
| The Galleria | 8.6 mi | about 15 min; 23–30 min at rush hour |
| Hobby Airport | 14.0 mi | about 23 min; 35–46 min at rush hour |
| Bush Intercontinental Airport | 20.4 mi | about 31 min; 47–62 min at rush hour |
| Energy Corridor (I-10 at Eldridge) | 17.3 mi | about 25 min; 38–50 min at rush hour |
Drive times are estimates. Off-peak minutes come from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) without traffic, checked November 2026; rush-hour ranges assume 1.5 to 2 times as long, which is common on Houston freeways. Actual times vary with traffic, weather and time of day.
Driving distances from Woodland Park.
Homes in Woodland Heights
Restored and expanded bungalows and cottages make up most of the neighborhood, with some newer homes and townhomes on the edges. Inside the historic district, exterior changes and new construction need city approval, so plan remodels with that in mind. For current prices, see the homes for sale and recent sales on this page.
Median household income: $83,148 in ZIP code 77009 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates). ZIP code figures can include areas beyond the neighborhood.
Public schools serving Woodland Heights
Houston ISD. This is a short, hand-checked list of the zoned schools for most of the area; zoning can change from one block to the next.
| Elementary | Travis Elementary School — Zoned elementary for Woodland Heights; the campus is inside the neighborhood. Also serves part of Norhill (south of 11th St). |
|---|---|
| Middle | Hogg Middle School — Serves Woodland Heights. |
| High | Heights High School — Serves Woodland Heights. Formerly Reagan High School (renamed 2016). |
The Travis zone also extends east of I-45, where addresses go to Marshall Middle and Northside High instead of Hogg and Heights High. Confirm any address with HISD School Navigator. School ratings and how to read them are on our Houston school information page. Checked November 2026.
Flood risk in Woodland Heights at a glance
- Floodplain share: about 27% of the area outlined on this page's map is in FEMA's 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplain, and about 11% more is in the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) zone. Source: our calculation from FEMA's current effective National Flood Hazard Layer, November 2026.
- Hurricane Harvey (August 2017): flood insurance claims recorded by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, by ZIP code: ZIP 77009: 238. ZIP codes include areas beyond the neighborhood, and many flooded homes had no flood insurance.
- Check a specific address: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool. Floodplains follow bayous, creeks and low ground, so one street can differ from the next; ask for the seller's disclosure and an elevation certificate, and get a flood insurance quote during your option period.
Woodland Heights questions buyers ask
Where is Woodland Heights in Houston?
Just north of Downtown, between the Heights and I-45, with Woodland Park and Little White Oak Bayou along its northern edge. It's about 2.4 miles from Downtown by car.
Is Woodland Heights the same as The Woodlands?
No. Woodland Heights is a historic Inner Loop neighborhood about 2 miles from Downtown, while The Woodlands is a master-planned community about 30 miles north in Montgomery County. The similar names cause a lot of mix-ups.
Is Woodland Heights safe?
Woodland Heights is served by the Houston Police Department. Review HPD's recent crime statistics for the streets you're considering, and visit at different times of day.
How much do homes cost in Woodland Heights?
In the 12 months through September 2026, 113 homes sold in Woodland Heights on the MLS, with an average price near $1.05 million and typical monthly median prices mostly between about $750,000 and $1.25 million. New construction over 3,500 sq ft is usually priced between $1.5-$2.5 million. There are also smaller restored bungalows on original lots, which add to the character. 5,000 sq ft lots usually range between $600k-$800k for just the land.
What ZIP code is Woodland Heights?
Woodland Heights is in ZIP code 77009.
What are the homes like in Woodland Heights?
Early-1900s bungalows and Victorian-era homes on tree-lined streets, many restored or expanded, plus newer and larger homes on original lots. Due to high land values, most new development has focused on larger homes approaching $2 million. Development began in 1907, making it one of Houston's oldest planned neighborhoods.
Does Woodland Heights flood?
Most streets sit on higher ground, but homes near Little White Oak Bayou and White Oak Bayou are closer to mapped floodplains. Check the FEMA flood zone and Harris County Flood Control District maps, read the seller's disclosure, and get a flood insurance quote during your option period.
What schools serve Woodland Heights?
Woodland Heights is in Houston ISD, and Travis Elementary is the neighborhood's popular zoned elementary school. Confirm zoning for any address with HISD's school finder.
What is there to do in Woodland Heights?
Woodland Park, the White Oak Bayou trail, local restaurants and coffee shops along Studewood and White Oak, and quick access to the Heights, Downtown and the Near Northside.
Is Woodland Heights part of the Heights?
It's next door and often grouped into the Greater Heights, but it's its own historic neighborhood with its own civic association, east of the original Houston Heights.
Is Woodland Heights walkable?
Walking is good inside the neighborhood, with tree-lined streets and sidewalks on most blocks. Restaurants and shops line Studewood Street and Houston Avenue on its edges, and the White Oak Bayou trail and Woodland Park are within a few minutes' walk. Most residents still drive for groceries and commuting.
Can I tear down or remodel a home in the Woodland Heights historic district?
Houston City Council designated part of Woodland Heights as a city historic district in 2011, covering about 386 homes. Inside the district, exterior changes, additions, new construction and demolitions need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission. Homes outside the district boundary don't need one, but check deed restrictions before buying.
What is Lights in the Heights?
Lights in the Heights is a December holiday celebration put on by the Woodland Heights Civic Association. Blocks of the neighborhood are lit with luminarias and closed to cars, with live music and hot drinks along the route. It's usually the 2nd Saturday in December and starts at sundown. Be prepared to bring walking shoes, a beverage of your choice, and a wagon for the little ones.
Where are the best places to eat in Woodland Heights?
Popular choices include Pinkerton's Barbecue (a Michelin Bib Gourmand), Sushi By The Heights and Spice in Heights on Studewood Street, White Oak Social next to White Oak Music Hall, and Alturas Mexican Cafe on Airline Drive.
Where can I shop local in Woodland Heights?
Kaboom Books on Houston Avenue is the neighborhood's own used bookstore. A few blocks west on East 11th Street is Buchanan's Native Plants, a nursery since 1986.
Does Woodland Heights have deed restrictions?
Yes. After the original restrictions lapsed, residents used a 1988 Texas law to reinstate deed restrictions, and parts of the neighborhood also have City of Houston minimum lot size and minimum building line protections that limit lot splits and keep front setbacks consistent. These rules apply in addition to the historic-district review inside the district boundary. Ask for the recorded restrictions for the specific block before buying.
Will the I-45 expansion affect Woodland Heights?
Woodland Heights sits next to I-45, and the stretch between Loop 610 and I-10 is Segment 2 of TxDOT's North Houston Highway Improvement Project. TxDOT's 2025 materials say final design for Segment 2 has not started because of pending funding, with construction anticipated to begin around 2031. Buyers near the freeway can check the project maps at txdot.gov/nhhip for the latest plans and right-of-way details.
How far is Woodland Heights from Downtown Houston?
Woodland Heights is about 2 to 3 miles north of Downtown, usually a 5- to 10-minute drive via Houston Avenue, North Main or I-45 outside rush hour. The White Oak Bayou Greenway trail also connects the area to Downtown by bike.
Who is a good realtor in Woodland Heights?
Evan Compean and the Compean Group rank #1 on AgentPronto's list of top agents for Greater Heights, the City of Houston super neighborhood that includes Woodland Heights, and #3 on its Houston list (November 2026; AgentPronto compares agents on transaction data, specialties and client reviews). Woodland Heights is one of the areas where we work most often, and Evan actually lives in the neighborhood. He and his team know this local market well. Based at 802 W. Patton St just north of Downtown, the Compean Group has sold more than 1,000 Houston homes over 15 years, with 921 reviews and ratings across five sites. The rest of this guide has much more to get your search started.
Sales figures are MLS closed sales for the 12 months from October 2025 through September 2026. Driving distances are approximate. The Average Sales Price and Total Listings box further down this page is calculated automatically from homes currently listed for sale in the area and updates daily, so it can differ from these closed-sale figures.
Client results nearby
- Termites, a roof leak and a closing date that had to hold (Woodland Heights area, 77009)
Related Guides and Local News
- AI vs. an experienced agent: why you still need a human in a Houston home sale
- Houston home prices by neighborhood: 12 months of sales
- Houston property taxes and MUD taxes in 2026
- Houston flood zones and flood insurance: the maps to check
- Texas homestead exemption: how much you save and how to file
- Mortgage rates, seller credits and buydowns
- No state income tax: what moving to Houston saves
Local news
- Stude Park receives $1.2M to move forward with planned upgrades (Community Impact, May 2026)
- Stude Park slated for $1.2 million playground upgrade (Community Impact, Dec 2025)
- New Mediterranean restaurant Spice in Heights holds grand opening on Studewood (Community Impact, Aug 2026)
- Japanese Market by the Heights to open on Studewood Street (Community Impact, Oct 2026)
- Buchanan's Native Plants celebrates its 40th anniversary with a fall festival (Community Impact, Oct 2026)
Free guide
The Woodland Heights Neighborhood Guide (PDF)
A short buyer's guide with the average price and price range, months of inventory, distances to major attractions, dining, nightlife, and what sets Woodland Heights apart from nearby neighborhoods.
Request a copy or call (832) 777-3904.
Buying or selling in Woodland Heights? Evan Compean and the Compean Group team have handled 1,000+ sales in 15 years.
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