Are you considering moving to Houston, TX? Whether you are looking to rent a home and live a busy city life inside of The Loop or are looking to settle your growing family in one of the suburbs outside of The Loop, there is a home for you in the major city of Houston, Texas. With incredible public schools, as well as a cost of living and home prices for every budget, living in Houston and the greater Houston area can suit anyone and everyone’s living needs. Read below to learn more about the best places to live in Houston.
10 BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN HOUSTON
1. The Woodlands
If you work downtown and don’t mind commuting from outside The Loop–and let’s be honest, commuting is simply a part of the Houston lifestyle–then The Woodlands is for you. It is one of the best places to live in Houston for families who want to live in the suburbs and still have city amenities. The Woodlands is a master-planned community located 27 miles north in Houston. It was originally carved out of a heavily wooded part of Spring, Texas in 1974, and has maintained its rural character with 6000 acres of protected green space, 200 miles of biking and walking paths, and over 100 parks. Even with this serene atmosphere, The Woodlands is a city in Houston within itself. This Houston suburb has large business parks, corporate campuses, upscale malls, residential neighborhoods, a hospital, convention center, and an outdoor music pavilion.
2. Katy
The master-planned communities of Katy, such as sought-after Cinco Ranch, do an incredible job of supporting employees of Igloo, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and the Energy Corridor. It’s one of the best places to live in Houston thanks to it’s more than 500 restaurants, Katy is one of the best places to live in Houston, TX. Some of the local attractions in Katy include the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum, Typhoon Texas Water Park, and Katy Mills Mall.
3. Sugar Land
Popular with wealthy families who want their kids to be raised in the suburbs, Sugar Land is one of the best neighborhoods and destinations in Houston, TX. Sugar Land residents don’t have to leave their neighborhood for downtown Houston for cultural experiences: the Sugar Land Town Square hosts many family-friendly events throughout the year, Smart Financial Centre pulls in some of the best national musical acts, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science has an outpost in town. Even with all the expensive subdivisions, there is still a lot of affordable real estate/homes throughout Sugar Land to accommodate any cost of living that future residents are seeking.
4. Pearland
Pearland continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the greater Houston area year after year. With its close proximity to the Texas Medical Center and downtown Houston, excellent public schools, affordable real estate and low crime rates, it is one of the best places to live in Houston, Texas. Many people move here to attend The University of Houston at Pearland, as academics is highly valued in this city, and end up staying after they graduate because of the Pearland’s cost of living.
5. Richmond
As the city of Richmond continues to grow as one of the best places to live in Houston, it is still able to maintain its historical charm — which is why Houston home buyers seek it out in the first place, that and for its close proximity to the city of Houston. In addition to a large number of historic homes, the quaint city of Richmond has several historical sites for residents to enjoy, including the County Court House which was established in 1908, the Fort Bend Museum, and the historic Morton Cemetery. If you are looking for a master-planned community in Richmond, make sure you check out the area of Aliana!
6. Friendswood
Friendswood is a business and family-friendly community located south of Houston that has excellent primary school districts and both a high employment rate and a high cost of living. The small-town living in this major city is accomplished by how to spread out their luxury real estate, with single-family residences surrounded by mature trees and master-planned communities offering a picturesque suburban life. Both the city of Houston and Galveston Island are just short drives away from Friendswood, bringing access and convenience to residents.
7. Clear Lake
Clear Lake, a tight community for empty nesters who raised their families in the Houston neighborhood, was originally a master-planned suburb for NASA Johnson Space Center employees in the 1960’s. The neighborhood is 20 miles southeast of downtown and for the last 20 years has been very attractive to young parents that are looking for the best schools in close proximity to NASA. Clear Lake itself empties into Galveston Bay, making for one of the best fun-filled near-coastal neighborhoods on the edge of Houston.
8. Stafford
The city of Stafford is located southwest of Houston and can attribute much of its commercial and residential success to the fact that it doesn’t have any property tax. Several businesses take advantage of this and greatly contribute to the city’s high employment rate. Stafford has rich entertainment for its residents, including the Stafford Centre Performing Arts Theatre, and is home to the Margaret Havens Historical Memorial Gardens.
9. West University Place
If you can afford to buy a home and raise a family within The Loop, West University Place, locally known as “West U”, is one of the best neighborhoods in Houston to do so. Located next to Rice University and only 15 minutes from downtown Houston, West U’s community is filled with young social families, great schools and the best kept lawns within The Loop where the average home is valued at over $700,000. West U residents also enjoy the nearby Texas Medical Center (which is the largest in the nation), Hermann Park, and Houston’s 12-block Museum District.
10. Montrose
Renting in the progressive Houston neighborhood Montrose will cost the artistic and eccentric folk who flock to this area around $1,600/month for a one bedroom apartment. As one of the best neighborhoods in Houston for live music, vintage shopping, and political activism, Montrose has a thriving art community. As you walk through the tree-lined boulevards, pop into an art gallery, quaint coffee shop, or tattoo parlor. This 4 square miles walkable Houston neighborhood offers a tight-knit community of residents in an otherwise spread out city and is one of the best places to live in Houston if you plan on staying within The Loop.
MOVE TO ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN HOUSTON, TEXAS TODAY!
Whether it be renting a hip condo in West U or Montrose, staying inside of The Loop, or settling into one of the master-planned communities in The Woodlands or Katy, the cost of living in Houston can suit all life stages and budgets. Continue researching and getting data on which area in or around Houston are among the best places to live in Houston, TX today!
