Let's rate the Houston burbs.... (The Woodlands, Conroe: neighborhoods, good schools, place to live)

[Supermac34]

People pretty much list the same 5-6 with the number one or two spot reserved for the place that they live. Any would be great. All have pros and cons.

[Out of Alaska]

Do kids go to public or private schools in these areas?

[usc619]

Originally Posted by Supermac34

People pretty much list the same 5-6 with the number one or two spot reserved for the place that they live. Any would be great. All have pros and cons.

I live in Katy, my top two are Woodlands and Sugarland

[texas7]

Schools are good in all of these areas - no need for private school unless it is just a personal preference for you.

[wereinhouston]

Living in Katy? On purpose? Maybe that's why "The Woodlands" rates so highly. It's just in comparison. The Woodlands was built for out-of-towners that want to pretend they're not in Houston.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Supermac34

People pretty much list the same 5-6 with the number one or two spot reserved for the place that they live. Any would be great. All have pros and cons.

#1 I choose Clear Lake, because I live here now, because it's halfway between our Galleria and Galveston job locations.

#2 I choose Sugar Land, because I spent some time growing up there.

The rest, I'm going to draw straws from a hat. This is about as fair as I can be.

What do I know from visiting/driving into the areas in the OP list?

Katy, Cypress and The Woodlands are way out there, and feel like it. 30-40 miles from downtown. Kingwood isn't quite so far out, but it still feels detached from Houston like the others, but is still part of the Houston city limits.

A little closer in, 20 miles from downtown or so:
Clear Lake is part of Houston city limits as well. Feels like Houston in a lot of ways, also feels like it's own place in a lot of ways. When people say "Clear Lake" they could also be referring to cities of Webster, Nassau Bay, El Lago, Taylor Lake Village, Seabrook, Kemah, Friendswood, League City, or a tiny part of Pasadena.

Stafford, Sugar Land, Mo. City and Richmond are part of a fast growing blob. It's just amazing how much that area has expanded over the past 20 years, and it doesn't seem to be letting up.

Well that's my take on this.

[PearGirl]

We live in Pearland and love it. The commute is not bad and the houses are a bargain. There is a predominance of big-box stores, but I see that everywhere these days. As for the poster who asked where to live with small children, to me Pearland is better described as the land of families with small children. I would feel left out here if I were childless.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by Out of Alaska

Do kids go to public or private schools in these areas?

Public schools for the most part.

[SkyeAnjel]

I vote for The Woodlands and Klein for my top 2. Public schools are great and I am all for pretending I don't live in houston.

[mtbmike]

Having just relocated, my advice is to get out from behind the keyboard and on a plane to Houston if you want to find the best area for yourself. Visit the schools, malls, churches and grocery stores. Spend a week touring all over, then come back a few weeks later and center in on an area you like. I may like Sugar Land, you may like another area for different reasons. I am traffic phobic so that rules out most everything on the list for me.

Again, you have to visit in person. This forum is full to too many bias, trolls and other people to really base your decision on data and facts. Personally, I'm not sold on the Woodlands if you like to do stuff in town. I think Katy drops IMHO a little in reality vs. on paper. There's no way I'll get on 290, ever and there is a LOT of inventory on the market off of 288, not sure it's a long term winner. If you are coming from somewhere like the coasts, don't have kids or can do private school and have $ to put in a house then living in-town in the Memorial area, West U or Bellaire might be worth considering.