Moving to Houston in the future...need help w/ neighborhoods (Austin: apartment, living)

[JPodz]

I'll be relocating to Houston around the 1st of the year from Chicago, due to a new job. I'm male, single and late 20's. I'll be working pretty much on airport property at George Bush Intercontinental (as an air traffic controller).

I've been told anywhere in the inner loop is decent, and was also given a little rundown of the better neighborhoods to live:

Midtown: trendy, bars, a little overpriced
Upper Kirby: trendy, bars, best location inside the loop
Montrose: the gay neighborhood, but really great location in the middle of everything
Museum District: access to Hermann Park, world class museums, close to Rice Village
The Heights: very Austin-like, also Washington Ave has become the nightlife strip of the city.

Can anybody elaborate on this, or care to add more information as to decent areas to live?

I'm looking for an apartment. One bedroom, near some nightlife. Mostly laid back bars, decent food (which I'm sure can be found in any neighborhood nearly everywhere obviously). Prefer living near people my own age.

I'm probably being really vague but I do plan on taking a trip down there in the next month or two to scope out the areas and see what I like.

[EasilyAmused]

Midtown or Upper Kirby should work just fine. All those places aren't really that far apart. You could easily live in one and drive a few minutes and be at the other.

[bfizzy]

The Heights is like Austin?

[JPodz]

Originally Posted by bfizzy

The Heights is like Austin?

Not my words, just found it elsewhere.

I'm aware of the lack of zoning down there, but are some of these neighborhoods semi-walkable?

Like a few blocks walk to some bars or restauraunts?