How Much It Will Cost You To Buy a House in Houston’s 18 Best Suburbs

If you’re planning a move to the Houston area, you may not want to live in the middle of the city — especially if you’re seeking a family-friendly lifestyle and a single-family home. Fortunately, there are numerous suburban options that offer affordable and luxury properties, exceptional schools and access to first-rate dining and shopping.

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Take a look at these 18 Houston suburbs and find out whether one could be perfect your next move .

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Cinco Ranch

• Average home price: $615,000

Cinco Ranch is a western suburb of Houston and just a 30-minute drive from downtown. Homes in Cinco Ranch sell like hotcakes, averaging just six days on the market before being scooped up by a new buyer.

The suburb is known as one of the best places to live in Texas, particularly for families, and has a reputation for excellent public schools.

The Woodlands

• Average home price: $615,000

The Woodlands is a small community located 30 minutes north of Houston. It’s a master-planned suburb with many recreational, shopping and dining options.

The Woodlands is also known for having high-quality public schools. Buying a home in The Woodlands is competitive, with properties selling within an average of nine days.

Sugar Land

• Average home price: $497,000

Sugar Land is a prominent suburb of Houston located 20 minutes southwest of the city. It has a diverse population of over 110,000, with people from many cultural backgrounds calling the community home.

Some of its standout features include Oyster Creek Park, a gigantic green space with extensive walking trails and a fishing area, and Sugar Land Town Square, which offers lots of places to shop. Houses in Sugar Land sell quickly, with the average property on the market for nine days or less.

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New Territory

• Average home price: $497,000

New Territory is a smaller suburb located 40 minutes southwest of the city. It’s noted as one of the best places to live in Texas due to its excellent school system, strong sense of community and open spaces.

Most residents own their own homes, and it’s especially attractive to young professionals and families with young children. On average, New Territory properties sell within 15 days of their initial listing.

Spring Valley Village

• Average home price: $1,387,260

Spring Valley Village is a well-to-do suburb that’s 15 minutes west of the city. While it’s quite close to the hustle and bustle of downtown, it’s a rural community with large houses on vast acres of land.

On average, Spring Valley Village homes sell within 18 days of their listing date. The area boasts a high-quality school system, lots of green spaces and numerous restaurants and coffee shops.

Greatwood

• Average home price: $505,750

Greatwood is a small master-planned community located 30 minutes southwest of Houston. Its population is only around 12,000 people.

Greatwood has over 30 neighborhoods with a variety of homes, from townhouses to mansions, and its school system is outstanding. The community includes many amenities, including the championship Greatwood Golf Course, lots of parks and a community pool.

Bellaire

• Average home price: $1,045,000

Located 15 minutes west of Houston, Bellaire is a small suburb with a population of just over 17,000. It is firmly committed to safety and provides full-service police and fire protection, making it a secure place to live.

Residents of Bellaire have access to top schools in the Houston Independent School District, and there are seven universities and colleges within 10 miles of the community. Houses in Bellaire sell quickly, generally within 10 days of their initial listing.

Taylor Lake Village

• Average home price: $352,500

Taylor Lake Village is located 40 minutes southeast of Houston on the coast of Taylor Lake. It offers more affordable housing options than some of the other communities on the list and is considered a very safe area.

Residents enjoy many activity options, including water sports, restaurants and shopping. NASA is a five-minute drive away, and the school system is considered among the best in the area.

Friendswood

• Average home price: $499,000

Friendswood is a large suburb of nearly 41,000 residents located 30 minutes southeast of Houston. It offers an excellent school district and a tight-knit community that’s great for raising children. There are numerous green spaces for outdoor activity, including Stevenson Park, which offers an amphitheater, basketball courts and a playground.

Friendswood is more affordable than some of the other Houston suburbs, and houses sell within 23 days of initial listing.

Hedwig Village

• Average home price: $2,850,000

Hedwig Village is an affluent suburb located just 15 minutes east of the city. It consists primarily of well-tended single-family homes and large estates.

The suburb offers a close-knit community, and residents enjoy Hedwig Village Park and Buffalo Bayou Greenway, which provide plenty of outdoor activities, including walking and biking trails. The school district is top tier and known for its commitment to academic excellence.

Properties in Hedwig Village are sought after and sell within weeks.

Hilshire Village

• Average home price: $2,600,000

Hilshire Village is a tiny community of approximately 1,100 residents. Its land area is just over 1/3 square mile, and properties consist of single-family homes and custom-built estates. While the suburb is small, it’s within a 15-minute drive of Houston, so residents have plenty of nearby shopping and dining options.

Many urban professionals choose to live in Hilshire Village, which has a very competitive housing market. Properties generally sell slightly over the listing price within an average of 45 days.

Meadows Place

• Average home price: $319,000

Located 25 minutes southwest of Houston, Meadows Place is a small community of nearly 5,000 residents that offers affordable housing. The mix of townhomes and single-family residences attracts young professionals and families alike.

Meadows Place provides excellent public schools, and the area has plenty of parks and playgrounds. The real estate market is competitive, with most homes selling within 22 days of their initial listing.

El Lago

• Average home price: $347,500

El Lago is a small community of slightly over 3,000 residents. It’s located 35 minutes southeast of Houston and is within a few minutes’ drive of NASA and the Johnson Space Center.

The community is comprised of single-family houses, several condominium complexes and an apartment complex. Its proximity to Taylor Lake gives residents access to water sports, including boating and fishing. El Lago has excellent public schools, and it’s known as a great place to live for families.

Sienna

• Average home price: $525,500

Sienna is a newer, master-planned community located 35 minutes south of the city. It sits on over 10,000 acres and boasts a variety of single-family and custom-developed homes.

The community includes resort amenities — such as public pools, parks and walking trails — and is in close proximity to shopping and dining establishments. Sienna’s school district is top notch, and the area is known for being family-friendly.

Nassau Bay

• Average home price: $442,450

Nassau Bay is a small community of 5,200 residents located 30 minutes southeast of Houston. It’s the site of Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston, making it an excellent living option for NASA employees.

The community includes a mix of single-family homes and condominiums, and properties sell within an average of 27 days. Nassau Bay offers excellent public schools, and the area has numerous green spaces, restaurants and shopping options.

Katy

• Average home price: $380,000

Katy is a larger suburb with a population of nearly 23,000 located 30 minutes west of Houston. It offers a mix of townhomes and single-family residences, and it’s known for its numerous parks and hiking and biking trails.

It’s very kid friendly, with a top-rated school district and plenty of family-friendly activities, including Typhoon Texas, a giant waterpark. Many restaurants are in the area, including traditional Texas barbecue and Mexican dining options.

The Katy property market is competitive, with houses selling within 21 days.

Pecan Grove

• Average home price: $437,020

Pecan Grove is a mid-sized suburb with nearly 23,000 residents located 40 minutes southeast of Houston. It’s near Sugar Land and Katy, giving residents easy access to shopping and dining.

Pecan Grove’s school district is top rated, and the area offers a variety of single-family homes at affordable prices. The property market in Pecan Grove is highly competitive, with houses selling within an average of 16 days.

West University Place

• Average home price: $1,737,500

Located 15 minutes south of Houston, West University Place has a population of nearly 15,000. It’s a prominent suburb known for its proximity to Rice University, one of the nation’s leading universities.

West University Place is also close to Texas Medical Center and home to some of Houston’s priciest real estate. There are a variety of single-family homes, including Spanish and Mediterranean-style properties. Residents enjoy the area’s countless restaurants, cafes and shopping options.

Note: Average home prices are sourced from Redfin unless otherwise specified. All data is accurate as of July 23, 2024.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : How Much It Will Cost You To Buy a House in Houston’s 18 Best Suburbs