The Woodlands or where for families? (Conroe, Spring: renting, low crime, homes)

[Jazz_Fish]

I will be relocating to Texas to take a job in The Woodlands area. I am looking for advice on where to settle down. I have a family with two small children (1 and 4), so I would like a nice place to raise the children. The things I am looking for are: diversity, good neighborhoods (but with not too tight of deed restrictions - would like a vegetable garden), good schools, low crime, a nice art scene, older homes, and perhaps a bit rural. I would also prefer a minimal commute. We will most likely be renting for a year before finally buying, but any advice to get us started is most welcome.

Oh yes, and no hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, floods, fire ants, or rattle snakes.

Thanks -

[eastwest]

If you're needing diversity, I'd stay out of the woodlands. Seriously.

[mom22bless]

There is diversity in TW. You just need to open your eyes and look around.

[AK123]

Stay near your job, so in the Woodlands or maybe Spring. You might check out Old Town Spring.

You will sometimes have tornado warnings when strong storms come through, and in Texas there's really no avoiding fire ants... you can buy products at the hardware store to control/get rid of them though.

[Turk]

Woodlands has a little diversity, without really looking at numbers I would guess 60-80% white. It is a great place for children, with most the villages having parks and pools, trails and sidewalks for getting around. But the HOA's are killer there, unknown if they'll allow vegetable garden.
Across I45 is Oak Ridge North, and there is lots of development going on over there too. Lower cost housing, thus more diverse. Lower cost, less amenities like parks and all, but there are some there. Conroe ISD is building new schools there, lots of growth. The high school is a little rough but good administation; there is a little more crime in the are, but I don't feel its that bad.
Want rural? There's the Caney Creek area out SH242 east of I45 Good schools, schools are diverse.
Magnolia has offerings, but FM1488 is packed with traffic, but its being worked on. Tomball also has some rural area to look into.

Thats a fair bit of areas within about 20 minutes from the Woodlands.

Spring and Klien are also options.

As for your last request? Rattlers and hurricanes aren't big worries, but the rest....good luck.