Houston

Shortest commutes to Downtown Houston

Ranked on distance to Downtown Houston at 50% and the mean commute time residents report to the Census at 50%. The mean commute includes people who work locally, which is why the two numbers do not always agree.

Updated Sep 2026·48 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
West University Place sign
West University Place$1.47M median · 19.6 min commute
Commute AHousing A+Cost of living F
95
Commute score
overall 71 B−
2
en:Bellaire, Texas water tower
Bellaire$1.04M median · 20.9 min commute
Commute A−Housing ACost of living F
89
Commute score
overall 68 B−
3
Houston, TX
Houston$278k median · 27.2 min commute
Commute D+Housing FCost of living C+
79
Commute score
overall 56 C−
4
Galena Park welcome sign
Galena Park$118k median · 28.1 min commute
Commute D−Housing FCost of living B−
71
Commute score
overall 43 D
5
Photo of the San Jacinto Monument taken from the Battleship Texas in Fall 2006. The Fred Hartman Bridge is visible in the background.
Deer Park$265k median · 24.2 min commute
Commute C−Housing D+Cost of living B−
70
Commute score
overall 62 C
6
Pillar in Stafford, Texas
Stafford$258k median · 26.2 min commute
Commute D+Housing D−Cost of living B
66
Commute score
overall 55 C−
7
Pasadena$210k median · 26.6 min commute
Commute DHousing FCost of living B
65
Commute score
overall 51 D+
8
Cloverleaf$170k median · 28.6 min commute
Commute FHousing FCost of living C+
65
Commute score
overall 46 D
9
Weaver A. Odom Elementary School - Aldine CDP, uninc. Harris County, Texas
Aldine$103k median · 30.1 min commute
Commute FHousing FCost of living B−
63
Commute score
overall 38 D−
10
This display is below elevated highways
La Porte$235k median · 24.4 min commute
Commute C−Housing DCost of living C+
63
Commute score
overall 54 C−
This list's weighting
Distance to downtown 50%Mean commute time 50%
Other Houston lists
Best Houston suburbs for familiesMost affordable Houston suburbsBest Houston suburbs for schoolsMost walkable Houston suburbsBest Houston suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Houston suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: West University Place (WhisperToMe · CC0); Bellaire (WhisperToMe · Public domain); Houston (Katie Haugland Brown · CC BY 2.0); Galena Park (WhisperToMe · Public domain); Deer Park (Tijuana Brass · Public domain); Stafford (WhisperToMe · CC0); Aldine (WhisperToMe · Public domain); La Porte (Jim Evans · CC BY-SA 4.0).