77401 — Bellaire

Bellaire (ZIP 77401) is a densely settled Houston neighborhood, home to about 17,125 people across 3.5 square miles — roughly 4,893 residents per square mile. It has the texture of an established inner-ring community: a mix of older single-family stock and newer infill, with daily errands rarely more than a few minutes away. By Houston standards this is an affluent area. The median household here earns $236,037 — 178% above the metro median of $84,833 — and per-capita income runs $112,471, both signals of concentrated wealth and high-earning professional households.

The population skews established (median age 45.1) and family-oriented, with an average household of 2.76 people. With a diversity index of 48.9/100, 77401 is somewhat less diverse than the typical Houston ZIP. The largest groups are White (67.6%) and Asian (20.4%).

Put in context, 77401's median home value of $977,600 sits 224% above the Houston-area median home value of $301,548. That places local home values above the national median (around $340,000), though still well under coastal-metro pricing in California or the Northeast. Educational attainment — 81.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, versus the 35% metro average — reinforces the area's higher-skill, higher-earning profile.

The home-price-to-income ratio of 4.1 puts 77401 in moderate-cost territory. At $977,600, the median home runs 4.1 times local income — buyers will generally need a meaningful down payment and disciplined budgeting to make the math work. As a rough yardstick, a household would want income near $325,867 to buy at the local median under conventional guidelines.

Renting is comparatively comfortable here. Median rent of $2,705/month is only about 14% of median household income — a healthy cushion below the 30% cost-burden line. The neighborhood is owner-dominated (87.9% of homes are owner-occupied), which tends to correlate with longer tenancies and a more settled residential feel. Annualized, the typical renter pays about $32,460 per year for housing.

Commutes are a genuine selling point: the average one-way trip is 22 minutes, shorter than the 28-minute metro norm. Transit use is light (0.5%), but a sizable 20.4% of residents work from home, easing rush-hour exposure.

Day to day, residents have roughly 133 restaurants, 7 grocery stores, 19 parks, and 6 gyms within or near the ZIP. Health care is close at hand with 2 hospitals and 4 pharmacies in the area. Notable nearby draws include Bellaire City Hall, Evelyns Park, Bellaire Town Center.

Who does 77401 suit best? On the data, it fits established professionals and executives and families looking to put down roots. Flood risk is moderate here, so reviewing the specific property's FEMA designation is still worthwhile.