Washington Ave / Rice Military Neighborhood Guide
Townhome living between Memorial Park and Washington Avenue
Rice Military home sales, last 12 months: 109 homes sold, at a typical price around $621,000 (October 2025 through September 2026). Source: HAR MLS closed sales. Data as of October 2026.
Property taxes: A $621,000 home here pays about $13,270 a year at current rates, or about $9,460 with the homestead exemption. See how the homestead exemption works. Data as of October 2026.
921 reviews and ratings across five sites as of October 30, 2026: Google 216 (5.0), Zillow 153 (5.0), Yelp 147 (4.9), RateMyAgent 56 (5.0), HAR 349 surveys (4.99).
TownhomesMemorial Park accessRestaurants & nightlifeShort commutesLock-and-leave living
Updated November 5, 2026
Living in Washington Ave / Rice Military
Washington Ave / Rice Military sits just west of Downtown, between Washington Avenue and Memorial Drive, with Memorial Park on its western edge. It is one of Houston's busiest townhome neighborhoods: over the past two decades most of its small older homes have been replaced by three- and four-story townhomes, many with rooftop decks and Downtown views. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops along Washington Avenue are within walking distance for much of the neighborhood.
Why buyers choose Washington Ave / Rice Military
- Memorial Park next door. Nearly 1,500 acres with running trails, sports fields, the Houston Arboretum and the Memorial Park Golf Course.
- Washington Avenue. Restaurants, bars and nightlife a short walk or bike ride away.
- Easy commutes. About 3.5 miles to Downtown and 5.5 miles to the Galleria or the Texas Medical Center, with quick access to I-10 and Memorial Drive.
- Buffalo Bayou trails. The Buffalo Bayou Park trail system runs along the southern edge, connecting to Downtown.
- Newer homes. Many homes were built in the last 20 years, with open layouts, attached garages and low-maintenance yards.
What's in and near Washington Ave / Rice Military
- Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, and Memorial Park Golf Course
- Restaurants and bars along Washington Avenue
- Buffalo Bayou Park and its trails
- The Heights and Montrose, a short drive away
- Houston ISD schools (zoning varies by street, so check each address)
Where to eat and shop in Washington Ave / Rice Military
Rice Military's dining scene runs along Washington Avenue and Memorial Drive. Truth BBQ on South Heights Boulevard, just off Washington, is a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick for brisket, ribs and cakes, and Max's Wine Dive reopened in 2026 under new owners, still serving its well-known fried chicken alongside a deep wine list. Burger Bodega made Resy's March 2026 Houston Hit List, and Miri's Kitchen on Memorial Drive serves Persian kebabs, lamb shank and tahdig. For a casual lunch, El Rey Taqueria on Shepherd Drive mixes Mexican and Cuban dishes.
For independent shopping and art, the Washington Avenue corridor is the place to look. Sawyer Yards holds hundreds of working artist studios, which open to the public on Second Saturdays. The Arrangement, a Houston furniture and decor showroom founded in 1988, sells Western, rustic and contemporary furnishings and offers design services on Washington Avenue, and Henderson & Kane General Store in the Old Sixth Ward is a family-run general store in a 1930s building, stocking local coffee, craft beer, Texas wines and barbecue.
Getting around
| Destination | Distance | Drive time (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Houston | 3.5 mi | about 6 min; 9–12 min at rush hour |
| The Galleria | 5.4 mi | about 10 min; 15–20 min at rush hour |
| Texas Medical Center | 5.6 mi | about 11 min; 17–22 min at rush hour |
| Hobby Airport | 14.6 mi | about 25 min; 38–50 min at rush hour |
| Bush Intercontinental Airport | 24.3 mi | about 39 min; 59–78 min at rush hour |
| Energy Corridor (I-10 at Eldridge) | 14.5 mi | about 22 min; 33–44 min at rush hour |
Drive times are estimates. Off-peak minutes come from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) without traffic, checked November 2026; rush-hour ranges assume 1.5 to 2 times as long, which is common on Houston freeways. Actual times vary with traffic, weather and time of day.
Driving distances from central Rice Military.
Homes in Washington Ave / Rice Military
Mostly townhomes, from two-story homes to four-story homes with elevators, plus some patio homes and a few remaining older bungalows. Many sit on shared driveways with HOAs or maintenance agreements, so review those documents, and check flood history and elevation for each address. For current prices, see the homes for sale and recent sales on this page.
Median household income: $144,911 in ZIP code 77007 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates). ZIP code figures can include areas beyond the neighborhood.
Public schools serving Rice Military
Houston ISD. This is a short, hand-checked list of the zoned schools for most of the area; zoning can change from one block to the next.
| Elementary | Memorial Elementary School — Zoned elementary for Rice Military and nearby areas south of Washington Ave; the campus (6401 Arnot St) is in the neighborhood and offers IB and dual-language programs. |
|---|---|
| Middle | Hogg Middle School — Serves Rice Military and nearby Washington Ave areas. |
| High | Lamar High School — Serves Rice Military (west of Shepherd Dr). Heights High School — Serves some Washington Ave-area neighborhoods east of Shepherd Dr (e.g., Magnolia Grove, per older HISD maps). |
High-school zoning changes around Shepherd Dr, so confirm the address. Confirm any address with HISD School Navigator. School ratings and how to read them are on our Houston school information page. Checked November 2026.
Flood risk in Rice Military at a glance
- Floodplain share: about 14% of the area outlined on this page's map is in FEMA's 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplain, and about 5% more is in the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) zone. Source: our calculation from FEMA's current effective National Flood Hazard Layer, November 2026.
- Hurricane Harvey (August 2017): flood insurance claims recorded by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, by ZIP code: ZIP 77007: 247. ZIP codes include areas beyond the neighborhood, and many flooded homes had no flood insurance.
- Check a specific address: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool. Floodplains follow bayous, creeks and low ground, so one street can differ from the next; ask for the seller's disclosure and an elevation certificate, and get a flood insurance quote during your option period.
Washington Ave / Rice Military questions buyers ask
Where is Rice Military in Houston?
Northwest of Downtown, between I-10 and Memorial Drive, with Washington Avenue running through it and Memorial Park on its western edge. It's about 3.5 miles to Downtown and 5.4 miles to the Galleria by car.
Is Rice Military safe?
Rice Military is served by the Houston Police Department. Review HPD's recent crime statistics for the streets you're considering, and visit at different times of day.
How much do homes cost in Rice Military?
In the 12 months through September 2026, 109 homes sold in Rice Military on the MLS at a typical (median) price around $621,000 and an average near $640,000. Most were two- and three-story townhomes.
Why are there so many townhomes in Rice Military?
Small original lots and strong demand for close-in living led builders to replace older cottages with two- and three-story townhomes starting in the 2000s. Today townhomes make up most of the homes, many with rooftop decks and attached garages.
What ZIP code is Rice Military?
Rice Military is in ZIP code 77007.
What is there to do in Rice Military?
Washington Avenue's restaurants and bars, Memorial Park's trails, golf course and Eastern Glades, the Buffalo Bayou trails to the south and the Sawyer Yards art studios nearby.
Does Rice Military flood?
Parts of Rice Military are close to Buffalo Bayou, and low-lying streets have flooded in major storms, so risk varies block to block. Since 2018, Houston has required new homes in mapped floodplains to be built higher. Check the FEMA flood zone, the seller's disclosure and an elevation certificate if available.
What school district serves Rice Military?
Rice Military is in Houston ISD. Zoned schools depend on the address, so confirm with HISD's school finder.
Do Rice Military townhomes have HOAs?
Many do, especially gated communities with shared driveways, while others are stand-alone homes with no HOA. Review the HOA budget, rules and any shared-driveway agreement before your option period ends.
Is Rice Military close to Memorial Park?
Yes. Memorial Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country at about 1,500 acres, borders the neighborhood to the west with running trails, golf, sports fields and the Eastern Glades.
Is Rice Military walkable?
For a Houston neighborhood, yes. Residents walk or bike to Washington Avenue's restaurants and bars, to Memorial Park and to the Buffalo Bayou trails along Memorial Drive. There is no rail line, so most people still drive for groceries and commuting.
What are the boundaries of Rice Military?
Rice Military is roughly bounded by Washington Avenue on the north, Memorial Drive on the south, Shepherd Drive on the east and Westcott Street on the west. The name comes from Camp Logan, a World War I Army training camp in what is now Memorial Park.
How far is Rice Military from Downtown and the Galleria?
Downtown is about 3 miles east via Memorial Drive or Washington Avenue, usually a 10-minute drive outside rush hour. The Galleria/Uptown area is about 5 miles southwest via Loop 610, and the Texas Medical Center is roughly 6 miles south.
Where are the best places to eat in Rice Military?
Popular choices include Truth BBQ (Michelin Bib Gourmand barbecue), Max's Wine Dive (fried chicken and wine), Burger Bodega (burgers), Miri's Kitchen (Persian) and El Rey Taqueria (Mexican and Cuban).
Where can I shop local in Rice Military?
Independent shopping is spread along the Washington Avenue corridor, including the artist studios at Sawyer Yards, The Arrangement furniture showroom and Henderson & Kane General Store. Sawyer Yards' Second Saturday open studios are the easiest way to buy directly from local artists.
Is guest parking hard in Rice Military?
Guest parking is limited on many blocks because townhome driveways and garages take up much of the curb, and some streets have permit-only or restricted parking. Blocks closest to the Washington Avenue bars and restaurants see more weekend visitor parking. Buyers should check whether a townhome has a guest space or a pad in front of the garage, and look at the street's posted parking rules.
Will I hear trains in Rice Military?
A Union Pacific freight line runs along the Washington Avenue corridor near Rice Military. The City of Houston set up a railroad quiet zone along this stretch, so trains generally don't sound horns at the crossings except in emergencies, though homes right next to the tracks still hear passing trains. Visiting a home at different times of day is the best way to judge it.
What should I check before buying a townhome in Rice Military?
Most Rice Military homes are townhomes built since the late 1990s, so build quality and upkeep vary by builder and age. Buyers typically order an independent inspection, review any shared-driveway or HOA agreements, ask about remaining builder warranty on newer homes, and check the lot on the FEMA and Harris County Flood Control District maps.
Who is a good realtor in Rice Military?
Compean Group ranks #2 on AgentPronto's list of top agents for Washington Avenue Coalition – Memorial Park and #3 on its Houston list (November 2026; AgentPronto compares agents on transaction data, specialties and client reviews). Rice Military is one of the areas where the Compean Group works most often, and Evan and the team know this local market well. With more than 1,000 homes sold and hundreds of 5-star reviews on Google, Zillow, Yelp, RateMyAgent and HAR, we are ready to help you buy or sell. The rest of this guide has much more to get your search started.
Sales figures are MLS closed sales for the 12 months from October 2025 through September 2026. Driving distances are approximate. The Average Sales Price and Total Listings box further down this page is calculated automatically from homes currently listed for sale in the area and updates daily, so it can differ from these closed-sale figures.
Client results nearby
- A 20-year-old roof and failing stucco (Washington Corridor, 77007)
Related Guides and Local News
- AI vs. an experienced agent: why you still need a human in a Houston home sale
- Houston home prices by neighborhood: 12 months of sales
- Houston property taxes and MUD taxes in 2026
- Houston flood zones and flood insurance: the maps to check
- Texas homestead exemption: how much you save and how to file
- Mortgage rates, seller credits and buydowns
- No state income tax: what moving to Houston saves
Local news
- Max's Wine Dive stages a Washington Avenue comeback with a new chef duo (Hoodline, July 2026)
- Yuma, Fortune Eight and Sin Yolanda among new openings on Washington Avenue (Houstonia, July 2026)
- Burger Bodega in Rice Military makes Resy's Houston Hit List (Resy, Mar 2026)
- Yuma sandwich shop heads to Washington Avenue among Houston's 2026 openings (Houstonia, Jan 2026)
- XO Eats + Entertainment brings a new dining and nightlife option to Washington Avenue (Community Impact, Mar 2025)
Free guide
The Rice Military Neighborhood Guide (PDF)
A short buyer's guide with the average price and price range, months of inventory, distances to major attractions, dining, nightlife, and what sets Rice Military apart from nearby neighborhoods.
Request a copy or call (832) 777-3904.
Buying or selling in Rice Military? Evan Compean and the Compean Group team have handled 1,000+ sales in 15 years.
Call (832) 777-3904Send us a message