Clear Lake, Houston
Updated June 22, 2026 · 69,362 residents
Clear Lake is defined by its deep connection to the aerospace industry and a suburban character marked by high walkability and excellent dog-friendly amenities. Residents enjoy a stable, family-oriented environment with access to top-rated schools, though the area experiences notable noise from road traffic and aviation.
Key Highlights
About Clear Lake
Originally part of a 30,000-acre ranch owned by Texas businessman James Marion West, the land that became Clear Lake was purchased by Humble Oil in 1938. Following NASA's 1961 selection of the area for its Manned Spacecraft Center (now the Johnson Space Center), Humble Oil's Friendswood Development Company partnered with Del E. Webb Corporation to build a master-planned community. Formally opened in 1963, Clear Lake City grew rapidly to support the burgeoning aerospace industry. Despite fierce local resistance and a "Free The Clear Lake 25,000!" campaign, Houston unilaterally annexed the community in 1977, a move that ultimately reshaped Houston's city council structure. Today, the neighborhood's unique identity remains tied to space exploration, anchored by landmarks like Space Center Houston and the local Freeman Branch Library.
The neighborhood maintains a distinct identity as a master-planned community that balances suburban residential life with significant green space and institutional presence. It is characterized by a mix of single-family homes and apartment complexes, often featuring large, multi-gabled rooflines and private backyard pools. The area is served by the Clear Creek Independent School District, which is widely recognized for its high academic standards and elite STEM and robotics programs. Outdoor life is a primary draw, with extensive networks of walking trails, grassy utility corridors, and public parks providing significant space for recreation and pet owners.
While the area offers high walkability in residential pockets, residents generally rely on vehicles for daily errands and commuting to commercial hubs. The neighborhood faces specific livability trade-offs, including moderate noise levels from nearby road traffic and aviation activity, alongside air quality challenges common to the broader region. It is best suited for families and professionals seeking a stable, established community with strong educational resources and proximity to the regional aerospace sector.
Neighborhood Scores Across 15 Qualities
Residential spacing offers a varied mix of suburban yards and denser apartment clusters, providing slightly more buffer between neighbors than the Houston average. According to iHuus data, while many homes feature detached structures with modest side yards, some areas contain closely packed housing with shared walls.
Continuous sidewalk networks and low-traffic residential loops provide safe environments for walking, which is notably better than the Houston average. While major highways can create disconnected zones near commercial areas, most residential streets feature well-connected paths and dedicated park walkways according to iHuus data.
Large homes with complex rooflines and frequent private backyard pools create an aesthetically pleasing environment that is above the Houston average. According to iHuus data, the area is characterized by well-manicured lawns and expansive driveways.
Extensive green corridors, wide grass verges, and connected trail networks provide ample off-road space for pets. According to iHuus data, these accessible parklands and continuous walking paths make the area significantly more dog-friendly than the Houston average.
A mix of dense residential pockets and large undeveloped green tracts provides a more open feel than much of the Houston area. Residents will find a landscape that transitions from established suburban housing to significant patches of woodland and industrial outskirts.
A mix of residential streets, green spaces, and light industrial zones creates a balanced but largely car-dependent environment. While various dining and service options are available, the neighborhood's energy is consistent with the Houston city average.
Frequent noise from nearby flight paths and major transit corridors makes this area louder than the Houston average. According to iHuus data, residents may experience regular auditory disturbances from heavy traffic and surrounding infrastructure.
Frequent unhealthy air quality levels pose a significant risk to sensitive groups, appearing slightly worse than the Houston average according to iHuus data.
Industrial and warehouse exposure is significantly lower here than the city average. Most areas consist of residential and light commercial zones, though occasional utility infrastructure and wastewater facilities are present.
Health insurance accessibility is notably higher than the Houston average, according to iHuus data. This indicates a majority of residents have access to medical coverage.
Political leanings in this area are notably more conservative than the Houston average. According to iHuus data, the neighborhood maintains a conservative majority with a smaller presence of opposing viewpoints.
A balanced mix of young adults, families, and seniors characterizes the local community. This demographic spread is slightly more diverse than the typical Houston age profile, according to iHuus data.
Residual flood risk exists within parts of the area because certain sections fall within the 500-year floodplain. According to iHuus data, the safety profile for this neighborhood is slightly higher than the Houston city average.
Block-Level Insights for Clear Lake
iHuus Neighborhood Intelligence Insights
Get block-level neighborhood insights for Clear Lake
- Street-level scores — see how individual blocks compare, not just neighborhood averages
- Micro-zone boundaries — identify quiet pockets, flood boundaries, and walkable clusters before you visit
- 15 dimensions in full — walkability, noise, air quality, school quality, insurance coverage, population age profile, urban/rural index, and more
- Boundary risk alerts — know if your address sits near a block boundary where scores drop, the kind of detail no listing will ever mention
- School insights — individual school ratings and insights, not just district-level data
- Compare before you commit — side-by-side data across neighborhoods, down to block precision
No credit card required
Compare with Any Neighborhood
| Dimension | Clear Lake | Acres Home |
|---|---|---|
| 🚶 Walkabilityavg 7.08 | ||
| 🔊 Acoustic Comfortavg 4.14 | ||
| 🤫 Privacy Indexavg 5.34 | ||
| 🎨 Visual Appealavg 6.42 | ||
| 🐕 Dog Friendlinessavg 6.33 | ||
| 🗺️ Urban-Rural Indexavg 6.64 | ||
| ✨ Neighborhood Vibeavg 4.4 | ||
| 🏥 Health Insurance Coverageavg 5.46 | ||
| 🌿 Air Qualityavg 3.58 | ||
| 🏭 Industrial Proximityavg 6.9 | ||
| 🌊 Flood Safetyavg 6.27 | ||
| 🗳️ Ideological Leanavg 6.39 | ||
| 👥 Population Age Profileavg 4.6 | ||
| 🔥 Fire Safety | ||
| 🏫 School Quality |
Clear Lake Rankings
School Districts Serving Clear Lake
Clear Creek Independent School District is a high-performing, stable organization that serves as a primary draw for families in the Greater Houston/Bay Area. Academically, the district is elite, characterized by a vast portfolio of top-rated elementary schools and exceptionally strong high schools with national reputations in STEM and robotics. Operationally, the district is navigating common Texas 'recapture' funding challenges and local growth pressures, yet it maintains high community trust and a lower-than-average staff turnover rate. While budgetary deficits and rezoning debates represent minor points of friction, CCISD remains a premier regional leader with a clear 'Blue Chip' trajectory once fiscal adjustments are finalized.
Schools
Deer Park Independent School District is a stable, high-performing 'Solid/Stable' organization characterized by exceptional middle school performance, strong community trust, and a robust financial foundation supported by its industrial tax base. While a performance disparity exists between its high-achieving junior highs and a subset of lower-rated elementary campuses, the district's terminal high school remains a strong anchor with high graduation rates and elite vocational programming. Successful execution of bond measures and high teacher retention rates indicate a healthy administrative culture and a clear strategic alignment with the local workforce and community needs.
Schools
Pasadena Independent School District is a solid and stable organization characterized by exceptional financial stewardship and robust academic outcomes. With an overall state accountability rating of 84 and a class of 2024 CCMR rate exceeding 91%, the district demonstrates a clear path to student success, further bolstered by six campuses earning spots on the 2025 Texas Honor Roll. While there is minor performance variance among elementary and middle schools, the district's high schools are destination-quality institutions with specialized programs in career and technical education. Supported by a community that trusts the district with major bond measures and a board that maintains high standards for administrative leadership and safety, PISD remains a high-performing system despite minor operational challenges in specialized student services.
Schools
School Insights for Clear Lake
Below average outcomes; significant attendance and academic challenges.
School Insights
See what's really behind every school rating near Clear Lake
- Individual school ratings — each school's own score with outcome context, not just a district average
- Enrollment & class size data — student-to-teacher ratio and how it compares to the state average
- Full demographics breakdown — ethnicity and gender composition for every school in the enrollment zone
- Every school in the district — all schools within the enrollment boundary ranked by rating, not just the closest one
- Grade levels & benchmarks — elementary through high school, with below/above state-average flags
No credit card required