Let's rate the Houston burbs.... (Pasadena, Sugar Land: house, private schools, pros and cons)

[Mr. Football]

So many factors that make each one appealing, some more than others. Overall, I'd rate them as follows:

1. The Woodlands
2. Cypress / Klein / Champions / Spring
3. Kingwood
4. Sugar Land
5. Clear Lake
6. Katy
7. Pearland

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Professor, I think we out-sprawl Dallas.

True. As tracked by the census bureau the Houston metro area (MSA) is about 10% larger (in terms of square miles) than the Dallas/Ft. Worth MSA. However, the DFW metroplex has a larger population by about 10% than the Houston MSA. In terms of rankings, DFW is 4th in the U.S.; Houston is 6th.

[stoneclaw]

Originally Posted by usc619

I'm sure we left out some good suburbs...

You could've at least included the Bay/Clearlake areas. Those areas are undergoing major waterfront condo booms and is said to be expected to become Houston's version of Long Beach. I do think Sugarland and The Woodlands are Houston's best burbs tho. But that's only my opinion

[texas7]

We are all rating the burbs in our area of preference so a lot of it depends on how much we like the area we live in and of course that will be number 1. Then some may base it on the burb and the commute into town combined so there are lots of variables. There was a point where I enjoyed crowded, busy areas and NEVER thought I would change and preferred to be in the middle of everything. Suddenly, I have grown tired of extreme crowds and row after row of the big box stores so I tend to go for areas where I can still find that within a couple of miles but I can still find some individualism and charm amidst it all. When I go home, I want to be away (even a tiny bit) from my 9-5 day. Good thing about Houston -there is a burb for all of us.

For me it is (am also considering commute as well as just enjoyable to live in/drive in, etc.):

1. Clear Lake/Seabrook/League City - all different cities but for this I am counting them as one - despite its proximity to the coast and hurricane season.
2. Friendswood
3. Old side of Pearland (new side isn't on the list for me)
4. Woodlands (my opinions go back and forth over the Woodlands and which I would rate over the other)
5. Kingwood
6. Katy
7. Cypress
8. Sugarland (and the new side of Pearland)

[BearBranch]

1. Kingwood

2. The Woodlands

3. Sugarland

4. Clearlake

5. Katy

6. Cypress/Champions/Spring

[jeffisok]

This is a very uneducated list because I am a newcomer, been here just two months now but from my perspective:

1) Tomball (Of course, I live there)
2) The Woodlands (Not sure why but it is very pretty)
3) Katy
4) Spring
5) Sugarland (Way over rated though from what I've seen)
6) Deer Park
7) Cypress

That's it. I don't know enough about any others to rate them.

[usc619]

I like the fact that everyone see something special in almost every suburb, Houston metro is a really BIG place with quite a few cool places to live, not too many cities have that luxury.

[AK123]

Considering - having lots of amenities, housing choices, aesthetics (signs, building codes, landscape) I'd say:

1. The Woodlands
2. Sugar Land, Missouri City
3. Kingwood, Spring
4. Tomball, Cypress
5. Katy
6. Clear Lake
7. Pearland

I'm not familiar with suburbs on the east side or near Lake Houston.

[usc619]

I guess for the most part everyone has the same 5 to 6 cities in their top ten.

[Out of Alaska]

Would any of you rate any differently if you considering moving a young family to any of these places?

This is all incredibly helpful - thank you to all who contributed!