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March 18, 2020 Posted in City Guides
Anastasia Hill

Apart from being the next fashion icon, Anastasia is also a freelance writer and expert on moving (and packing clothes).

18 Best Houston Suburbs You Should Consider Living In

If you happen to be moving to the so-called H-Town, choosing some of the top Houston suburbs as your new home would be a smart long-term investment in terms of improving the quality of your life. Those areas are more peaceful than urban neighborhoods and offer more space for less money. On top of that, their proximity to high-quality schools makes them perfect for raising a family.

suburban house ready for someone to move into Houston has many different suburbs you can call home

According to our data, these are the eighteen areas that will definitely meet your requirements, regardless of whether you’re moving with kids or want to spend your retirement years away from all the noise of the metropolis.

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Why Should You Move to the Houston Suburbs?

The nation’s fourth-most populous city is an urban center, and yet, many people lead what could be mistaken for a typical suburban life. There is no telling where the metropolis ends and where the suburbia starts. This has to do with the fact that in the past few years, the conditions outside of the urban area have significantly transformed, thus blurring the distinction between these two types of residential areas.

As the Houston Chronicle states, the suburbs have immensely changed culturally and economically because of the massive population growth in this big city. People who moved downtown in search of stable jobs and more affordable living are now relocating back to the suburbs. While wishing to own their own homes, they are now sending their children to high-quality schools and reducing their costs of living.

There are many reasons why you should move, after all this is one of the best cities in Texas to raise a family, but it’s also attractive for young professionals. If you’re in pursuit of an affordable house, excellent accessibility, top-ranked public schools, and wonderful amenities, you’ve come to house-hunt in the right place. Based on the data we’ve gathered, Houston’s suburbs are just the thing for you and the best time of the year to move there is anytime.

Houston H-Town covers 669 square miles and has a population of more than 2 million

What Would Be the Best Options for You?

For your upcoming relocation, we have selected a wide choice of districts and included them on our list of the best suburban neighborhoods near Space City:

  • Humble
  • Spring
  • Atascocita
  • Cypress
  • Jersey Village
  • Deer Park
  • Pasadena
  • Pearland
  • Stafford
  • Friendswood
  • Clear Lake Shores
  • Fulshear
  • Cinco Ranch
  • Meadows Place
  • Greatwood
  • Sugar Land
  • Missouri City
  • Katy

Top Places in The North

When you are deciding where to move, know that the area north of the downtown offers plenty of neighborhoods and communities with a small-town atmosphere, many lakes, town squares, and plentiful green spaces.

Humble – Low Cost of Living

With a population of more than 15,000, this Harris County town has a diverse economy, a lot of entertainment options, and a low cost of living. Compared to the US average, Humble’s cost of living is 10% lower. House value is more than 20% lower than the state and 40% lower than the US average, so you’ll likely be able to afford a house you want.

Recent employment growth is positive due to a significant presence of local businesses – Humble jobs have increased by 3.2%, so make sure to try to find a job before moving to another state. There are a lot of amenities at this location, including a shopping mall, top-notch schools and hospitals, and several parks where you can take your children out to play.

Places to Go Shopping in Houston Low cost of living and a great shopping mall make Humble an interesting place for living.

Spring – an Educated Community

With almost 60,000 residents, Spring ranks better than 97% of areas. School test scores here are more than 60% better than in other states of the US, and the median house value is 35% lower.

Spring is safer than 42% of the cities in the United States and has more people living here who work in IT and math than 95% of the places in the US. It’s also the right choice for families because of good education opportunities, a large population of college-educated adults, and the proximity of the Grand Parkway. As a very ethnically-diverse town, spoken languages are English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Houston suburbs Northside homes have ethnically-diverse neighborhoods

Jersey Village – Welcoming People

As one of the leading places to reside in TX, every little thing about Jersey Village is a perk. It’s diverse, offers good public education, most of the residents own their homes, and you can also enjoy a vivid nightlife there.

This is a calm town with a bit of an urban feel, and it’s very family-oriented. If you’re moving alone, find out how to make friends in a new city. This neighborhood will surely welcome you since the people in Jersey Village are considered kind and friendly.

“I recommend it for anyone looking for a nice, safe, clean, and family atmosphere suburban city to live-in. Very low crime and the police will arrive before you hang up the phone,” one of the locals said, as quoted by Niche.

Atascocita – A Good Choice for Families

The name of this town is derived from a Spanish word meaning soft, water-laden, or boggy land. It was established by the Spanish explorer, Alonzo Deleon, for military and trade purposes in the early 1700s.

A lot of amenities await you if you decide to settle down Atascocita. This medium-sized town with more than 65,000 citizens offers good public schools and the average income is more than $82,000. It’s perfect for families, has a lot of parks, and many young professionals reside here. The average age is around 30 years, and it’s only 20 miles from Space City. All of this makes it also a great place if you and your partner are planning to move in together and start a family soon.

Sunrise at Atascocita Atascocita is perfect for young people that want a great place to start a family.

Cypress – High Incomes and Low Crime Rates

This thriving town is home to companies such as Sisco, Hewlett Packard, and Lone Star College, which provide locals with stable and well-paid jobs. The presence of those large employers has a significant impact on the local economy and supports a median household income of almost $100,000.

Around 87,000 people live in Cypress and enjoy its many amenities, as well as the excellent quality of life and affordable cost of living. It has one of the lowest crime rates and is well-known for its hospitality. It’s located only 30 minutes from the urban area, and it has a bit of a higher commute rate than other places on our list.

bicycles With just a half an hour away from the urban area, Cypress offers great homes with a low crime rate.

Best Places In The East

In case you’re looking to be near the water, the cities and towns to the southeast of the downtown are inviting you with their seaside communities and plentiful outdoor recreation options.

Friendswood – A Good Destination to Retire

Friendswood was founded in 1895 by Quakers, and in the first 50 years of its existence, it only had a church, a school, a post office, and a grocery store. Now it’s one of the prime areas to reside in because of the general safety of the neighborhood, employment options, schools, and weather. In 2007, Friendswood was recognized as one of the 100 best cities to live in by CNN/Money magazine.

With more than 40,000 people living there, Friendswood is the 85th largest community in Texas. Still, you should have in mind that the average age here is 41, so maybe it’s not the ideal spot for young people. If you’re looking for a destination to retire in and an affordable smaller home to move into, this might be the one.

East Houston Street With a large community, Friendswood is a great place to live in, especially if you're in retirement.

Deer Park – Another Family-Friendly Gem

Just 22 minutes away from downtown lies a place that got its name after the private park for deer that formerly occupied the site. With only 34,000 citizens, Deer Park has a median income of almost $78,000. The average residence price is $193,000. Commute time is lower than the US average, and it can boast with some high-quality education facilities.

In short, everything about this location is attractive to future residents, especially parents. There are a lot of parks you can check out when you are done unpacking after the move, and it is one of the leading places to reside in Texas.

Deer Park With plenty of parks, families are attracted to Deer Park and its community.

Pasadena – Natural Beauty Resembling California

Pasadena is a medium-sized city with a population of almost 155,000 people, and it’s the 17th largest community in the state of Texas. Founded in 1893, it got its name after Pasadena, California, due to its lavish vegetation and the similarities in natural beauty between the two cities. Pasadena was once a farming area, and it became an industrial zone in the late 1930s.

The general quality of life in this area is rated well. Housing prices are affordable, and the weather is pleasant. The cost of living is 8.8% lower than the US average.

It’s home to San Jacinto College and Texas Chiropractic College, as well as to the University of Houston at Clear Lake. This is also an extremely ethnically-diverse location – most residents are Hispanic.

man riding As the 17th largest community in the state, Pasadena is filled with great housing opportunities, as well as some great colleges.

Prime Places Near The South

This is the area where some of the fastest expanding neighborhoods are. Pearland and Sugar Land offer a vast number and many different types of housing options in a suburban atmosphere. Other communities offer a diverse choice – from dynamic sections to a more rural lifestyle.

Missouri City – A Safe Community With Lots of Amenities

The cost of living in this suburban area not far from the H-Town center is just 1% above the US average, but total crime is 56% lower than TX and 53% lower than in the US.

This fantastic neighborhood offers so much to anyone who decides to change the address and move there. The income per capita is also a lot higher than the standard US and TX figures, while the median home value is 11% lower compared to the rest of the country.

Schools are also highly rated and overseen by the excellent Fort Bend Independent School District, and kids there have 50% higher scores than their counterparts in the rest of the US. Moving here would be a great decision for you and your loved ones if you happen to be working in the inner city loop and want to reside in a smaller town not so far away.

Sugar Land – A Prosperous, Tight-Knit Community

A location of a huge sugar plantation in the early 20th century from which it derives its peculiar name, Sugar Land has evolved into an affluent and fast-growing residential community. Almost 70% of the population here is married and more than 40% have kids under the age of 18. That makes this Sugar Land a suitable choice for families looking for a thriving and tranquil destination to settle down in.

This location has reasonable residence prices, and, overall, a great sense of community, despite being one of the most desirable places to live in the whole of Texas. Sugar Land has a very low violent crime rate, way below the national average (79 crimes per 100,000 residents). It also has good public schools and a large population of college-educated adults.

No room for moving stress because this is a place with a very high livability score since it ranks better than the 99% of areas in the country assessed by AreaVibes, a website that ranks the best places to live in across America.

Sugar Land A fast-growing community, Sugar Land is filled with reasonably-priced homes and great schools.

Pearland – Good Food and Live Music

This is an overall right choice for relocation since everything is well-rated – safety, education, housing, employment, expected costs, and weather. Relocating to Pearland, once a farming community that evolved into one of the fastest-growing cities in the area would only mean changing your file for the better.

The median household income is more than $100,000, and the median home price is around $265,000. There are excellent options for shopping in Pearland, including an open-air lifestyle mall called Pearland Town Center.

With more than 140 dining choices and more opening almost daily, there are plenty of options for eating out no matter if you move during the holidays or in the spring. Pearland is the hometown of the renowned Killen’s Steakhouse and Killen’s Barbecue. Central Texas Style barbecue has served smoked meat with homemade sides and desserts for over 40 years. Enjoy live music by local artists on weekends in many places around the town.

Pearland Pearland has many great dining choices, making it a great place to enjoy different meals and try something new.

Stafford – an Active and Healthy Lifestyle

With the commute time lower than the national average, lower cost of living, and a crime rate that declined by 40% year-over-year, Stafford is a good pick for anyone who wants to reside near, but not exactly in H-Town.

House value is 11% lower than the US average, and the schooling system has recorded great results – test scores are 50% better than the average. The median household income is $60,500, and it offers many employment opportunities due to a robust commercial activity going on.

Other than that, there are many events to go to, so your social life will not suffer. Stafford has many restaurants and active area parks ideal for those moving with dogs. It’s a healthy place – as the stats show, there are 88% of non-smokers and 79% of people who have an active lifestyle.

The Best Neighborhoods in Houston As Houston spreads, it begins to change. Almost all of the surrounding counties have become much more diverse in recent years.

Clear Lake Shores – The Yachting Capital of TX

With a bit higher cost of living, this small spot is very well ranked. Clear Lake Shores is known as “The Yachting Capital of Texas,” as it actually has more boats than people. The total population is almost 1,200, and the number of families is nearly 900, which makes it a great spot for kids and their parents, but only those that can afford it. The average income is $134,000, the crime level is practically non-existent, and there are many opportunities for employment.

Boating in Texas The Yachting Capital of Texas is a great place for boat-lovers.

Best Places In The West

The communities to the west of the downtown offer classic housing options in neighborhoods standing side by side with significant employers along the I-10 corridor.

Greatwood – Worth the Price

One of the finest places that west suburbia has to offer is Greatwood. It ranks as one of the most beautiful areas around H-Town, and it’s no wonder. We’d rate it with an A+ for everything except the prices. The cost of living in this location is high, but everything else is outstanding. This family-friendly, diverse community with almost 80% of married couples is just the one for you if you have or plan to have a family soon. It’s very close to Houston (27 miles via I-69), so you can even work there and commute without issues.

Greatwood offers many options for employment, and income per capita is almost twice as the US and TX average, which is $30,000. The poverty level is just 1.8% (state level is 16.7%, and the country level is 15.1%). Everything about this spot makes it a fantastic decision if a safe and prosperous location is what you’re looking for.

Greatwood Tree There are many employment options in Greatwood.

Fulshear – A Quickly Expanding Community

A bit more than 6,000 people live here, and they’re all satisfied. And why wouldn’t they be? Fulshear offers everything that you want if you’ve chosen to move out of the metropolis and lead a more laid-back, country lifestyle.

This spot ranks great for housing, it’s good for kids and offers quality public schools. The median household income is $175,000, the population is very diverse, and you’ll find a job quickly.

Besides, Fulshear is expanding fast, and safety (especially for children) is high. Residents describe it as a tight-knit community with kind people and a lot of amazing places to eat out.

Group of Young People Enjoy Life Fulshear has a community that is expanding fast and attracting more families to live there.

Meadows Place – One of the Top Ten Small Communities

Meadows Place ranks in the upper quartile for the density of population and diversity index when compared to the other cities in the state. This relatively small location has a median income of almost $84,000, and it’s one of the most highly educated communities in the nation. Approximately 42% of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to the typical community in America, which has just 22%.

Meadows Place was a part of Stafford’s extraterritorial jurisdiction before incorporation on November 14, 1983. It’s rated in the top ten small cities in TX, and top 100 in the US. Everything about this little spot is well-suited for families, including prices, education, safety, and job opportunities.

Woman riding bicycle Meadows Place is well- suited for families and those starting one.

Katy – Affordable Housing and Quality Education

Katy provides the highest quality of life for its inhabitants: beautiful neighborhoods, well-planned communities, and vast green spaces for parks and recreation very close to H-Town.

Regardless of whether you’re a young professional looking for work, a family person, retired senior, or an entrepreneur, you could find your rightful place in Katy. It is a member of many economic development councils while income per capita is around $30,300. That’s 9% higher than the Texas average and 1% higher than the national average. The poverty rate in Katy is only 9%, which is more than four times lower than the national average. Education opportunities in Katy are excellent due to the presence of large employers such as Igloo, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and housing is very affordable.

Katy has many interesting facts and rich history – it used to be a geese-hunting mecca. And during the ’80s, the kids used to swim in the rice fields. The old rice farms had pipe canals that would pour out the water and create instant pools to the delight of rice farming kids and teens.

Houston ship The growth of the suburbia is also changing politics and culture

Choose the Right Houston Moving Company

Relocation is quite a big deal and change for everyone involved no matter if you are relocating for a relationship or in pursuit of your dreams, so choosing a good moving company will help you go through this process. Furthermore, having cross country movers is especially important if you’re moving alone to another state and want to avoid getting relocation depression. If you want to lower your moving expenses declutter before hiring professionals. Except for the moving services, highly recommended and reputable Houston movers who know plenty of packing tips and tricks can also offer the packing of your items like furniture and clothes and a month of free storage. They’ll also explain to you how car shipping works and help you transport your vehicle across the country with their auto shipping services. With no scams or monkey business, you’ll get to the desired destination, and all of your belongings will be handled professionally. If you’re relocating on a budget, create a household inventory list, and consider moving tips on some of the cheapest ways to move out of state to reduce the costs of moving, donate unwanted items, avoid common moving mistakes. Be sure to also find free boxes and other packing materials for moving and become a new resident of Houston suburbs.

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