A small city along the coast with vibrant attractions and waterfront homes
Home to just under 2,000, Kemah is a small city along the western coast of Galveston Bay near the mouth of Clear Lake. The waterfront city's roots run deep; it was founded as a late 19th-century coastal fishing and shrimping town called Evergreen. Today, Kemah's beating heart is in its spirited Lighthouse District and Kemah Boardwalk, which buzz with locals and tourists alike. Its waterfront homes, diverse restaurant selection and ample parks are major selling points. "Kemah is thriving with all kinds of boating and fishing, live music, friendly Texans and restaurants and bars fitting to everyone's taste," Realtor Yavon Shaw-Cooper of RE/MAX Grand. Shaw-Cooper has sold homes across the area for over two decades.
The Lighthouse District and Kemah Boardwalk
Kemah's vibrant Lighthouse District, scattered across 6th Street and stretching toward the Galveston shore, is the city's hub for all things dining, drinking and shopping. Toucan Alley features a collection of restaurants, boutiques, bars and much more. Locals often grab dinner at Sensa, coffee at Art of Coffee, collectibles at Innovative Crafting or ice cream at Cool Cow Creamery. Within walking distance from Toucan Alley are a few more local favorites, like Bakkhus Taverna and Skallywag Suds N' Grub. Palapa's Bar and Bubble Jungle are late-night spots with full bars, open until two in the morning. While North Highway 146 runs through the area's center, locals can access big box stores like Walmart, Aldi and Target. And off Marina Bay Drive are Target and Home Depot.
Kemah is known for its bayside homes and local restaurants, but Kemah Boardwalk is where the city's personality truly lives. The attraction promotes a strong tourist industry, and visitors frequently flock to the waterfront amusement park for its restaurants and rides. Families enjoy carnival games, treks through the aquarium or views from the ferris wheel. The Boardwalk Bullet is one of the attraction's most popular rides and its only roller coaster. Residents also enjoy the attraction's namesake boardwalk that hugs the perimeter. Kemah Boardwalk hugs its marina of the same name, which features over 400 slips. Kemah Boardwalk is also a haven for community events. Events include Jazz Fest, Wine Fest and boat parade.
Waterfront homes and tucked-away ranch-style homes
There are just over 1,000 homes in Kemah, primarily built in the 1990s and early 2000s. Millennial mansions and sprawling custom estates scatter the Galveston Bay shore, adorned with private docks and patios with prime bay views. The city's most expensive homes are on the waterfront. A few waterfront homes cost nearly $900,000, but bigger, 5,000-square-foot homes reach and exceed $2 million. Further inland, across Highway 146, the homes are smaller and less expensive. The contemporary colonials and new traditional homes in the Kemah Oaks subdivision cost between $200,000 and $400,000. And the townhomes in Kemah Village cost about $250,000. Meanwhile, standalone ranch-style homes on spacious lots scatter the community. Average home values sit about $30,000 under the American average but trend about $80,000 higher than the rest of Galveston County.
Kemah parks and plans for change
Kemah owns and operates over 60 acres of parks and natural green space, divided into 11 total properties. Most of the 60 acres are part of 57 Acre Nature Facility, an abandoned Army Corps site with outdoor fitness equipment and plenty of open space. Additional parks like Cien Park and Joseph A. Foster Park feature traditional amenities like playgrounds, basketball courts and picnic shelters. Pocket parks, like Bel Road and Fifth Street Pocket Park, feature views of Galveston Bay with swimming ramps and small docks. While locals enjoy available parks, city officials and community members suggested changes in the Kemah Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan. A prevailing goal of the master plan is to improve walkability. The Master Plan recommends increasing the number of sidewalks in commercial and residential areas and removing barriers. In addition to improving the city's walkability, the plan includes a layout for revitalizing the 57-acre nature Facility. The park would be refaced entirely in a 9-phase plan, including a new welcome center, playground, fitness trail and much more.
Clear Creek Independent Schools
Kids growing up in the Kemah attend schools served by Clear Creek Independent School District, which Niche ranked as the second-best school district in Galveston County and gave an overall A. The school serves over 40,000 and has an overall student-to-teacher ratio of 17-to-1. A typical pipeline includes LaVace Stewart Elementary School, Bayside Intermediate School and Clear Falls High School, all receiving an overall A-minus or higher.
Environmental risks along the shore
Since Kemah is along the Galveston Bay shore, flooding is a prevalent risk. According to Risk Factor, Kemah has an extreme risk of flooding over the next 30 years. Of the 1,000-plus properties in Kemah, about 26% of properties have a 99% chance of being affected by flooding. This is primarily because of hurricanes, which also give the city an extreme wind risk over the next 30 years. And it's hot in Kemah. With "feels like" temperatures on the rise, 100% of homes have an extreme heat factor.
Navigating Kemah
Locals primarily drive to get around. Highway 146 passes directly through Kemah's heart and is the primary route out of the city. Houston is just over 30 miles away, and locals typically hop on 146 northbound if they're headed into the city. Healthcare is provided at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital, just off East NASA Parkway. William P. Hobby Airport is about 23 miles away. Kemah residents mostly commonly work in construction, accommodation and food services and manufacturing.
Crime
The overall CAP Index Crime Score in Kemah is 3 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4 out of 10. Kemah is served by the City of Kemah Police Department, which is divided into two divisions: administration operations and field operations.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
