Hillcrest

With wide streets and an abundance of mature oak trees bearing tall, sprawling branches, Hillcrest is a little village just south of Alvin. “People love the size of the neighborhood—it’s not too big or too small,” says Whitney Pugh, the broker and owner of Legacy South Realty. She’s been a Realtor in Alvin and the surrounding areas, including Hillcrest, for nearly 15 years. “People just like that camaraderie that Hillcrest has. Everyone looks out for each other, it’s just a really tight-knit community. It’s a pretty active neighborhood, so you’ll have people riding around in golf carts in the evening.” Hillcrest’s active nature comes out even more during the holidays when everyone bands together to line the perimeter of their front yards with paper lanterns for Christmas Eve. “That’s been going on for forever—for as long as I can remember,” Pugh says. “My in-laws live there, that’s where my husband grew up, so they’ve lived there for over 45 years and that tradition has been going on since then. A lot of people drive through just to see the lanterns and the lights.”

Hillcrest is an established neighborhood, a fact that is attested to by the grand oak trees that draw so many residents in. Its ranch- and colonial-style homes are set back on larger lots, ranging from at least a quarter of an acre to about half an acre on average, though there are even larger, more rural properties if you head south along Main Street. Pugh says that these lot sizes are another major draw for potential residents. Homes in Hillcrest typically cost between $250,000 to $400,000, with the median price of a home in the neighborhood falling at about $325,000. Competition for homes in Hillcrest is steep, so it isn’t uncommon for homes to attract multiple offers. “I would say out of my whole area, the Alvin area, Hillcrest sells the fastest and for more price per square foot,” Pugh says, adding that the average time a house spends on the market is 30 days or less. The median time a home spends on the market is even less, falling to just 23 days. “I have buyers on a list right now who are just waiting for a house to hit the market in Hillcrest,” Pugh says.

Hillcrest is part of the Alvin Independent School District, which Niche gives an A rating and places among the top 20 best districts for athletes in the state as well as among the top 10 most diverse districts. Children in Hillcrest can go to pre-kindergarten through second grade at Stevenson Primary School, which has a B. In third grade, they move to Walt Disney Elementary School and then to Alvin Junior High School, both of which have B-plus ratings. Alvin High School also gets a B-plus from Niche and is known for its football and baseball teams. Athletic teams at the school routinely qualify for first and second rounds of playoff seats and the school’s dance team is nationally recognized. It’s also the only school in the district with a Marine Corps JROTC program.

Residents love heading to the 42-acre Bob Briscoe Park to fish in the pond, walk along its trails with their dogs and challenge each other to a game of tennis. When it’s hot, the covered basketball court provides protection from the sun while still allowing residents to scratch that competitive itch. At Hillcrest’s northern edge, the Hillcrest Golf Club’s lighted 9-hole course is another popular destination for locals.

Hillcrest is a heavily residential little village, so there aren’t any restaurants within its borders. It’s just south of Alvin, though, so shopping and dining options are always only a 3-mile drive away—often less. Pugh says that residents like being away from the hustle and bustle while remaining a quick hop away from everything they need. Most residents grab groceries at Kroger, which sits right on Hillcrest’s border. The Busy Bee Café is a favorite local haunt for country delicacies like biscuits and gravy and chicken fried steak, while Parks Restaurant’s buffet is the ideal place to go if you’ve worked up a big appetite. Its convenience and the warmth of its residents make Hillcrest a truly easy place for many to call home.

Written By

Christina Norwood

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Fox

Video By

Gabriel Miller