What it's like to live in Bellaire
Bellaire is a small city in Texas with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Bellaire deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How Bellaire compares
Median household income
Median home value
What it takes to move to Bellaire
Based on Bellaire's median rent, home value and household income
To buy
$207,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $103,750
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Harris County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Harris County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 58% below US
137 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2605/100k · Bellaire Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 20% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 46°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 132% above US
84% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Big Thicket National Preserve (83 miles away).
Bottom line
Bellaire's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Bellaire
All Texas guides →Not sure Bellaire is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.