Pocketed on the west side of Orange County and just 17 miles from the Texas-Louisiana border, the small city of Vidor offers proximity to all of the town's amenities while still boasting a rural feel. Spanning 10.6 square miles, Vidor has a total population of under 10,000 citizens and sits roughly 90 minutes outside of Houston, making for a less uptempo lifestyle among the county's wetlands.
Vidor's loosely gridded, cul-de-sac-laden streets primarily feature small ranch-style homes and townhouses — many of which were built in the 1960s. A smaller, older home under 1,500 square feet often price between $100,000 and $200,000 while larger properties with four bedrooms can range from $200,000 to $350,000. Homes normally take five or six weeks to sell, which means the housing market in Vidor is less competitive than many neighborhoods.
Students go to schools under the Vidor Independent School District umbrella. Children from prekindergarten to Grade 4 may go to Vidor Elementary School before moving on to Vidor Junior High School. Teens can attend Vidor High School off Orange Street, which offers a host of after-school clubs and organizations from National Honor Society to a fishing team. Each school earns a C-plus grade from Niche except for the junior high school, which earns a B grade. Vidor Middle School used to serve children in Grades 5 and 6 until it was damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. A new middle school is expected to be completed in 2024.
After school, parents often scoop up the kids and visit Claiborne West Park off Interstate 10 for playdates while athletes play ball at the baseball field and basketball court. Locals can also play disc golf or hike along the park's woody trails along the bayou. Kids can also show off their inner seafarer at Pirate Pride Park off East Bolivar Street. Neighboring the Raymond Gould Community Center, Orange County Vietnam Memorial serves as another notable gathering place, where locals can honor the lives of fallen soldiers.
For groceries, locals often pick up fresh meats and produce from the Brookshire Brothers off North Main Street while other essentials can be found at the neighboring Walmart Supercenter or the nearby Crossroads Shopping Center. Chain restaurants are also stationed along North Main Street, but locally-owned eateries steal the show. Hushpuppy Seafood is a local favorite for its oysters and popcorn shrimp while Mutt & Jeff's offers signature burgers and sandwiches. Additional shopping and restaurant options can also be found in the neighboring town of Beaumont 7 miles to the west. "Beaumont is like a developing hub. It has a lot of little country areas around it, so everybody has to come to Beaumont," says local Realtor Will Johnson of William TJ Realty, who grew up in the Greater Houston region and manages a YouTube channel dedicated to Houston real estate. "The only Home Depot and Lowe's is in Beaumont, so everybody in this area has to come to Beaumont in order to get anything."
Vidor is not walkable, but does offer excellent access to major roads and highways. I-10 runs straight through town, which connects to Beaumont and leads directly to downtown Houston 93 miles to the west.
Holly Cravy
RE/MAX On The Water -Bolivar
(936) 253-6380
109 Total Sales
1 in Vidor
$270,000 Price
Ashley Hurlburt
RE/MAX ONE
(409) 422-5725
91 Total Sales
2 in Vidor
$165K - $225K Price Range
EMILY ROSS
RE/MAX ONE -- 9000010
(409) 405-6147
214 Total Sales
15 in Vidor
$27K - $356K Price Range
Reagan Hanna
DOUBLE H PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC - 0516066
(409) 710-5324
60 Total Sales
1 in Vidor
$90,300 Price
Susan Lewis
ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE - 0566636
(409) 239-0093
92 Total Sales
2 in Vidor
$150,000 Price Range
Leah Hyde
COUNTRYLAND PROPERTIES -- 9000534
(409) 498-5793
38 Total Sales
8 in Vidor
$23K - $150K Price Range