need advice on finding apartments (Montrose, River Oaks, The Heights)

hi there! I’m a recent graduate moving to houston for a job downtown and looking for an 1bedroom apartment up to $1,500/month.

I’m from a small town and this is my first time moving to a big city and living alone, so safety is of my utmost priority as well as location! I’d like to be up to 15mins from Downtown for my daily commute but in a safe, fun part of town where I can find eating options and cafes!

I’ve narrowed my search down to The Heights, Montrose, and River Oaks— but would appreciate advice on which specific apartment buildings/complexes to check out. Where should I look? Are there any places to definitely avoid?

The city seems daunting but I’m keeping an open mind and looking forward to finding my feet here 🙂 Thanks in advance for the advice!