River Oaks Neighborhood Guide

River Oaks is one of the most luxurious and exclusive neighborhoods in Texas and in all of the U.S.

The neighborhood is well-known for being home to Houston’s elite – its residents include politicians, celebrities, business giants, and international figures. The area has a population of about 17,000 people.

Developed in the early 1920s, River Oaks was among Houston’s first master-planned communities. It has grown to be among the U.S.’s wealthiest neighborhoods with its grand estates, beautiful mansions, and towering trees.

The neighborhood maintains its old-world charm with traditional, one-story ranch style homes. New homes made by internationally-acclaimed architects feature modern, contemporary designs with Spanish and Mediterranean influences.

The neighborhood is conveniently located near multi-award winning schools under the Houston Independent School District. It is also home to the most sought after upscale shopping and dining destinations, landmark attractions, and diverse art and entertainment scenes.

River Oaks has been named by Forbes as among the Best Places to Live in Houston.

More than 13,000 people make up River Oaks’ workforce. About 61% of the neighborhood’s employees work in white-collar jobs.

Nearly 49% of workers are employed in private companies and 6% work in government. The most common types of jobs held by residents include management occupations, sales and office occupations, and business and financial operations occupations.

The neighborhood has a high population of young families and a median age of 36. About 36% of adults in the area have a bachelor’s degree.

White residents make up about 67% of the neighborhood’s total population. This is followed by Black residents accounting for 16%, and Asian residents accounting for 6.7%.

The public schools serving River Oaks are under the jurisdiction of the Houston Independent School District. It is the largest school district in Texas that manages 283 schools serving more than 200,000 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

The district is known for promoting personalized learning experiences that consider the needs of individual students. It has a curriculum that encourages students to achieve excellence in both academics and athletics through programs that help them become critical thinkers and problem solvers.

The school is also known for embracing diverse cultures – about 62% of the district’s student body are Hispanic students. This is followed by
African American students accounting for 24%, and White students accounting for 9%.

In 2018, the district had a graduation rate of 81%. HISD has also received a Met Standard rating from the Texas Education Agency. It is also a two-time winner of the Broad Prize award that recognizes public school systems that have made outstanding gains in student achievement.

River Oaks is a residential neighborhood with more than 13,000 homes, apartments, and luxury buildings.

The majority of housing units in the area are single-family homes built by internationally-acclaimed architects. Many of the traditional, ranch-style homes in the area have been upgraded to include modern amenities. Newer construction homes, meanwhile, feature Spanish and Mediterranean influences and English Tudor aesthetics.

The majority of properties in the area were built between 2000 to the present. There is also a significant number of homes that were built between 1960 to 1999.

Multi-million-dollar estates in the area have 6 to 9 bedrooms and feature luxurious amenities that include brick, stone, and stucco exteriors, exquisite staircases, expansive gardens, outdoor pavilions, large terraces, and spacious master retreats.

The neighborhood also has a good mix of townhomes and condominiums that are located in gated communities. These properties have convenient access to premier shops and restaurants.