Jersey Village

Jersey Village officials promise a higher public service level than anywhere else in the Greater Houston area. Judging from recent public works projects such as fiber optic cable installation, new on-street parking and preliminary plans for a new minor league baseball stadium, Jersey Village is true to its word. The Houston Chronicle named it the Top Workplace of the Houston Metro Area in 2022. Its success might be Jersey Village's adoption of a so-called home rule charter, which under Texas law allows it more freedom to tax and govern than other small cities in the Greater Houston area.

Jersey Village was named for the cows that once grazed on its land, which was first a dairy farm. The city was incorporated in 1954, so the infrastructure is relatively new. Homes and streets have been well-maintained, and the village has the clean and tidy feel of a model suburb. The old-growth willow oaks and wide streets without sidewalks are reminiscent of a midcentury Houston. Its location in Harris County, just 18 miles from Downtown Houston, makes it an attractive option for buyers looking for the security and quiet of the suburbs in proximity to the big city. According to Andrea Curran, a local broker associate with Compass for the last seven years, places like Jersey Village are growing because "folks are looking to move out of the city, they're attracted to award-winning master-planned communities and for me personally, the schools were a driver."

At the bottom of the price range, Cape Cod-inspired homes built in the late 20th century and housing up to three bedrooms can be found for under $250,000, making Jersey Village an excellent place for new families or buyers near the median income of the Greater Houston area. Upscale subdivisions such as Steeplechase offer larger homes with Tudor or colonial details on lots up to half an acre for under $350,000. At the top of the market, brand-new modernist mansions with Monterey accents and multiple bedrooms on an acre of land are listed for under $1.5 million. As with most Greater Houston neighborhoods, Jersey Village is crisscrossed by bayous, and some homes are on the floodplain and may require additional insurance.

Jersey Village is built around an 18-hole golf course in keeping with its suburban nature. The Jersey Meadow Golf Course dates back to the city's incorporation, and its expansive grounds make up the most significant green space in the neighborhood. Several pocket parks are smartly arranged throughout the town, so every subdivision has one. The largest is Clark Henry Park, a 7.5-acre green space shaded by Catawba trees with a substantial aquatic center with a 200,000-gallon pool and waterslide. Most restaurants and businesses operate along Route 290, which offers the most direct route to Houston. Several regional Mexican food chains and upscale fast-food chains sit next to car dealerships, supermarkets and big box stores. Municipal offices and the Jersey Village Emergency Room, a 24-hour community ER, are also along this stretch.

Jersey Village is in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, which, like the city, is independent of the Greater Houston area. Gleason Elementary School, one of two in the neighborhood, was awarded an overall A by the school rankings website Niche. It offers a bilingual track for students. Cook Middle School received an A-minus from Niche and provides students with a gifted and talented path. Jersey Village High School also received an A, has a robust athletics department and offers electives as varied as floral design and agricultural training. With the city of Houston and its dynamic economy just a 25-minute drive away, it's no wonder Curran says Jersey Village is becoming "one of the hottest suburbs in Houston."

Written By

Kent Olden

Video By

Jackson Nacey