Clear Lake vs. Pearland vs. Friendswood (Houston, Sugar Land: buy, schools, living)

[tstone]

Originally Posted by usc619

Pearland just has more minorities than the other areas you named, simple as that. I think it's a great place IMHO

Minorities here essentially meaning blacks. (south side). No need for the doublespeak.

Clear Lake has plenty of Asians/Indians. And Hispanics (southeast side). Those ethnicities are still 'minorities.'

Friendswood... point taken.

The heart of Pearland is nice, if a little country to me. The stupid antics you will find in public in Silverlake is quite a bit more pronounced than in Clear Lake. I don't think Silverlake is in Pearland proper. It has more to do with the trash factor than race factor. Check out Dickinson or Bacliff someday if you don't believe me.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by tstone

The stupid antics you will find in public in Silverlake is quite a bit more pronounced than in Clear Lake. I don't think Silverlake is in Pearland proper. It has more to do with the trash factor than race factor. Check out Dickinson or Bacliff someday if you don't believe me.

Public antics? Like what? How long would I have to hang out in the retail corridor to see this?

You're right...Silverlake hasn't been annexed by Pearland but I think it might be some day.

[Timnwendy]

Originally Posted by usc619

Pearland just has more minorities than the other areas you named, simple as that. I think it's a great place IMHO

I agree with this. My street in Southern Trails is an interesting microcosm of this; we have blacks, whites, indians, hispanics, chinese, filipinos, and vietnamese. Most all are professionals that work either downtown or in the medical center. Most are very nice folks, and almost everyone came to the National Night Out event we held on the street last October.

People have to decide whether they see this ethnic diversity as a plus or a minus, and then decide what their comfort factor is with it.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Topaz

Public antics? Like what? How long would I have to hang out in the retail corridor to see this?

You're right...Silverlake hasn't been annexed by Pearland but I think it might be some day.

I've been to the retail 'corridor' a few times and saw something every time I was there. It isn't scary or excessive, though, only annoying. (It's no wonder people say property values are decreasing.)

Things like bass-banging in the parking lots so loud your vision blurs, with cussing to beats blaring. It's not that big of a deal to me personally (I have a small collection of subwoofers & some pretty foul music) but around elementary school kids IMO it's a problem.

Where there are basketballs sold you may find teens dribbling/passing between crowds of people. Watch out for guys whacking each other with plastic baseball bats with complete disregard to others around them. (Much like Astroworld when it was open.)

And at the Silverlake Wal-Mart my wife & I were personally caught in the middle of a food fight that fired up in a split second.

Again, this horseplay is not excessive by any means. There's a low common denominator everywhere, but what happens from time to time in Silverlake is the absolute lowest on the entire outer south side IMO. Flame me, label me, whatever makes you happy -- just speaking from experience.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by tstone

Flame me, label me, whatever makes you happy -- just speaking from experience.

I wouldn't dream of flaming you! I want to hear personal experiences so that I don't make an ignorant home purchase decision. The last time my family bought a house, it ended up being one of the worst and most costly financial decisions of our lives. We made a decision too quickly (after one 48 hour house hunting trip) and I didn't talk to enough residents of the community. Live and learn but I never want to make that mistake again.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by Topaz

So does all of Friendswood have a bit of a rural or country feel? We drove around there today and I was surprised at the vibe. It felt like a small town, which I know some people would love but my husband and I had a difficult time picturing ourselves there. We drove around Clear Lake as well. I was comparing stuff too much to our current neighborhood so I wasn't feeling all that happy by the end of the day. Next I am going to check out Pearland, especially the part that texas7 says looks like Sugar Land (he didn't mean that as a compliment but we've loved living in Sugar Land).

Topaz - not that I didn't mean it as a compliment - just that I personally don't care for that -- it's much to sterile for me and everything just all looks the same. Lots of people love that and that is the environment they are most comfortable in. I just like to see things that look different, I like a mix of well-kept old and new - (emphasis on well-kept ) to bring some variety into the mix. I also tend to like friendliness and close-knit (not nosey but look out for neighbors type communities) whereas in the all the same areas, people seem to go more from garage to garage and are often more transient so you know less about your neighbors. While all areas mentioned are nice - it comes down to your personal preference - but sometimes aesthetics alone don't always make it the best place. But sounds like you have time to do some research and figure out where you will best be the happiest. You will get so many mixed opinions because most people stay where they are because they are happy there (with a few disgruntled exceptions).

I grew up in Pearland which at that time it was rural and I couldn't wait to get out but as time changed it moved up in status, things to do, freeways made it more accessible to other things and was a great place to raise a family but when 518/288 developed it just wasn't for me. Too many people there trying to turn it into Houston - if I wanted to live in greater Houston I would have and did for many years. As far as schools - when you get to a H.S. level, I believe the schools are better in CL or FW but elementary and intermediate are most important for core education in any kid so as long as your kids get those core basics, any high school with a good rating would be fine.

[dcoolbro]

I've lived in west Pearland for over a year and haven't had any issues. I've yet to see any unusual activity in the "retail corridor". Not saying stuff doesn't happen, just haven't witnessed it myself. As far as bass playing in the parking lot, well I hear that while i'm in Clear Lake as well. Even hear it while i'm in my office sometimes.You may come across that anywhere. Personally I really like it here, but plan to move only because i'm a city boy. But for a burb it's a nice place to live. The traffic however seems to be getting worse since they completed the Pearland Town Center. It was already bad, now it's even worse. I commute to Clear Lake as well and it's about a 30 to 40 minute commute. Getting to the beltway can be a pain sometimes. I ususally take Cullen on down, but it's a single lane and gets backed up often. During non-peak times it's a breeze.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by texas7

While all areas mentioned are nice - it comes down to your personal preference - but sometimes aesthetics alone don't always make it the best place.

I agree...the aesthetics do influence me but I wouldn't pick a place that looks nice at first but has other things going on that aren't a good fit for my family.

Originally Posted by dcoolbro

The traffic however seems to be getting worse since they completed the Pearland Town Center. It was already bad, now it's even worse. I commute to Clear Lake as well and it's about a 30 to 40 minute commute.

I noticed that. I know it is a busy time of year but the traffic near Pearland Town Center was incredibly awful. I know there are some plans to improve the situation but it may take awhile.

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I agree...the aesthetics do influence me but I wouldn't pick a place that looks nice at first but has other things going on that aren't a good fit for my family.



I noticed that. I know it is a busy time of year but the traffic near Pearland Town Center was incredibly awful. I know there are some plans to improve the situation but it may take awhile.

Oh my god I hate going out there! You definatly can tell Pearland wasn't expecting such fast growth so soon. I feel it has a lot to do with the lights. The lights before you go under the underpass is very short and actually change from green to red within 10 seconds.

[Jamesww]

As has already been said I would rank:
1. Clear Lake - Mainly because of the arts and activities plus I think the schools are a bit better than the other two.
2. Friendswood - I found it kind of difficult to choose between Pearland and Friendswood as they both have specific benefits over the other and each's strengths tend to be the others weeknesses. Friendswood tends to have a better family dynamic and the school system is better supported by the community. But, it is a distance from any major freeway making commuting longer than necessary. I made the final decision between the Pearland and Friendswood based on which spot I think property values will hold better. Pearland has over built and the once famed short commute to the medical center is disappearing. Pearland has the highest days on market and a ballooning inventory. I believe it will be the first area in Houston to take a overall decline in property values.
3. Pearland - I explained most issues with Pearland already but it is very close to the city core and non-rush hour commute times are great as it is near to several highways. Some will argue I am sure but it is my opinion that the schools in both Clear Lake and Friendswood beat out Pearland.