77520 — Baytown

Baytown covers ZIP code 77520, a suburban-scale slice of the Houston metro with 35,724 residents spread over 15 square miles. At about 2,382 people per square mile, it reads as a car-oriented community of subdivisions, arterial retail, and pockets of green space rather than a dense urban grid. Incomes here sit well below the metro average — a median of $54,249, roughly 36% under Houston's $84,833 median. Affordability of everyday goods and housing-cost pressure are central facts of life for many households in 77520.

The population skews prime working age (median age 37.1) and family-oriented, with an average household of 2.76 people. With a diversity index of 47.9/100, 77520 is somewhat less diverse than the typical Houston ZIP. The largest groups are Hispanic or Latino (54.9%) and White (45.6%).

Put in context, 77520's median home value of $144,200 sits 52% below the Houston-area median home value of $301,548. Both figures remain below the U.S. median home value (near $340,000 nationally), underscoring the relative affordability that continues to draw movers to the Houston metro. Educational attainment — 12.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, versus the 35% metro average — tracks the area's more working-class economic base.

At a home-price-to-income ratio of 2.7, ownership in 77520 is unusually attainable. The median home of $144,200 is only 2.7 times the local median income — comfortably inside the 3x threshold lenders and financial planners treat as affordable. As a rough yardstick, a household would want income near $48,067 to buy at the local median under conventional guidelines.

Renting is reasonably balanced: at $1,142/month, median rent absorbs about 25% of median income, inside the 30% comfort threshold. Ownership and renting are roughly balanced here (53.2% owner-occupied), giving the area a mix of long-term owners and a steady renter population. Annualized, the typical renter pays about $13,704 per year for housing.

Commutes are a genuine selling point: the average one-way trip is 24 minutes, shorter than the 28-minute metro norm. Like most of the metro, this is a driving neighborhood: 81.6% of workers commute by car alone and transit use sits at just 0.3%.

Day to day, residents have roughly 52 restaurants, 4 grocery stores, 13 parks, and 1 gyms within or near the ZIP. Health care is close at hand with 1 hospital and 3 pharmacies in the area. Notable nearby draws include San Jacinto Monument, Baytown Nature Center, Lynchburg Ferry.

Who does 77520 suit best? On the data, it fits first-time buyers watching their budget. The main caution is flood exposure — this is a FEMA AE zone with 6 declared flood events since 2000, so insurance and elevation deserve a hard look before committing.