Between Katy, the Woodlands, Sugar Land, Houston proper, and other surrounding areas, the Houston metropolitan area is the fifth most heavily populated area of its kind in the entire country. With so many places to live and work, homebuyers have plenty of choices when it comes to shopping around. However, for those looking to raise a family, no place may be better than The Woodlands.

Rated the second-best place to raise a family by Niche.com, the Woodlands was ranked highly based on the reviews from residents, data taken from sources like the Department of Education, and general factors like the cost of living. Here are some of the ways that the Woodlands stands out not only in Texas, but in the United States as a whole.

Schools

Photo courtesy of Buckalew Elementary

The Woodlands is home to some of the top performing schools in the Houston area. Whether you’re discussing elementary, middle, or high school, the schools in The Woodlands are some of the best you’ll find. Schools including Buckalew Elementary, Mitchell Intermediate, and The Woodlands High School all have excellent ratings on Great Schools. These schools are characterized by great communities, attentive staff, plenty of opportunities for parents to get involved, lots of advanced coursework for gifted students, and a number of extracurricular activities to join.

Cost of Living

The Woodlands occasionally wields a reputation for being home to some of the pricier homes in the Houston area. It is true that a search of the area reveals plenty of homes, mostly two-story, four-bedroom homes, priced at $400,000 and higher. However, there are also plenty of homes between $150,000 and $250,000. These are usually three-bedroom houses that are either attached or standalone single-family homes. The wide range of options in The Woodlands area means it’s a great place to move for homebuyers of almost any budget.

Crime Rates

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillon photo courtesy of  Buburuza Productions 

When compared against the Houston metro area, the crime rate in The Woodlands is much lower. It’s also much lower than both the statewide and national crime rate. When compared against the rest of the country, The Woodlands experiences less than half the crime in areas such as assault, robbery, burglary, motor theft, and property crime, according to the Niche report. 

Everything Else

Photo courtesy of  Buburuza Productions

As documented by the Houston Chronicle, residents of The Woodlands have access to numerous amenities, including green spaces around the area that feature over 200 miles of hiking and biking trails. There is also an aquatic center, plenty of places to go golfing, and performance areas where residents can find live music and other community events.