77598 — Webster / Clear Lake Shores

Webster / Clear Lake Shores (ZIP 77598) is a densely settled Houston neighborhood, home to about 26,638 people across 6 square miles — roughly 4,440 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. This is a working- and middle-income area. The median household income of $59,758 runs about 30% below the $84,833 Houston median, a profile common to neighborhoods anchored by service, trade, and hourly employment.

The population skews prime working age (median age 34.3) and mixed, averaging 2.13 people per household. With a diversity index of 57.2/100, 77598 is more racially and ethnically diverse than the typical Houston ZIP. The largest groups are White (54.5%) and Hispanic or Latino (32.4%).

Put in context, 77598's median home value of $228,700 sits 24% 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 — 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, versus the 35% metro average — tracks the area's more working-class economic base.

With a price-to-income ratio of 3.8, buying here remains realistic for local earners. The $228,700 median home is about 3.8 times median income — modestly above the classic 3x rule but well within reach for households with steady dual incomes. As a rough yardstick, a household would want income near $76,233 to buy at the local median under conventional guidelines.

Renting is reasonably balanced: at $1,279/month, median rent absorbs about 26% of median income, inside the 30% comfort threshold. This is a renter-majority ZIP — only 21.6% of homes are owner-occupied — so turnover is higher and the housing stock leans toward apartments and leased units. Annualized, the typical renter pays about $15,348 per year for housing.

Commutes are a genuine selling point: the average one-way trip is 25 minutes, shorter than the 28-minute metro norm. Like most of the metro, this is a driving neighborhood: 79.9% of workers commute by car alone and transit use sits at just 0.4%.

Day to day, residents have roughly 96 restaurants, 7 grocery stores, 24 parks, and 3 gyms within or near the ZIP. Health care is close at hand with 1 hospital and 5 pharmacies in the area. Notable nearby draws include NASA Johnson Space Center Nearby, Baybrook Mall, Clear Lake.

Who does 77598 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 7 declared flood events since 2000, so insurance and elevation deserve a hard look before committing.