- Ruben Munoz

Area and Community Information for

The Medical Center, Houston, Texas

The Rice Village/Medical Center area is one of the most vibrant and exciting in Houston, since it is home to the world-famous Texas Medical Center and the renowned Rice University. Both of these institutions are next to Hermann Park and the Museum District. The new Metro Light Rail line connects this area to Reliant Center to the south and Downtown Houston to the north.

The Texas Medical Center, covering more than 700 acres, accommodates about five million patient visits a year. Patients come from all over Houston and from all over the world for the excellent medical care and cutting-edge research. With a combined budget of $4.6 billion for its member institutions, the Medical Center has an $11.5 billion indirect impact on Houston’s economy. Nearly 80,000 jobs are tied to the area around the Medical Center and Rice Village.

One institution, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, includes St. Luke’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Health Network, St. Luke’s Health Charities, and the Kelsey-Seybold Management Company. St. Luke’s is home to the world-renowned Texas Heart Institute, which consistently ranks as one of the top ten cardiovascular centers in the country.

Another anchor hospital of the Texas Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Hospital, houses one of the city’s two Level One Trauma Centers. The hospital also runs Life Flight, the city’s legendary air ambulance service started by Dr. Red Duke in 1976. Memorial Hermann is one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the country.

Across the street from the Medical Center, Rice University enjoys the reputation of being a prestigious educational institution offering a distinguished faculty, low student-teacher ratio, and a high number of National Merit Scholars. A $2.5 billion endowment allows Rice to compete with the best of the Ivy League.

There are many townhomes and condominiums in the area with property values ranging from $120,000 to over $200,000. The average household income for Rice area residents is $175,000 per year. Homes range from $335,000 to several million dollars, an increase of 9.5 percent from last year. Many residents living in the neighborhood are employed by the 42 non-profit institutions of the Texas Medical Center.

DeBakey High School is an HISD Magnet high school in the Medical Center area that is named for the famed heart surgeon Michael DeBakey. DeBakey High has an Exemplary rating from the state and has graduated hundreds of students over the past 25 years who have gone on to have successful careers in many health fields. Other schools serving the area are Poe Elementary, 5100 Hazard; MacGregor Elementary, 4801 LaBranch; and Thompson Elementary, 3500 Tampa. Many students attend Ryan Middle School, 2610 Elgin, and then go to Lamar High School, 3325 Westheimer.