The Woodlands is a fun, family-friendly Houston suburb with an outstanding community. Neighbors become friends, families can explore plenty of nature, and the entertainment experience is like no other. Whether you’re looking to move from another Texas city – or relocate from another state – there are many factors that make The Woodlands THE place to live! We’re giving you our top 5 reasons why you simply MUST move to The Woodlands.

1.The Woodlands is Rated the #1 City to Buy a Forever Home

Good Call listed the top 100 cities based on categories like home affordability, home value growth, population growth, unemployment rates, crime rates, and education… The Woodlands is rated #1 with the following in each category:

Affordability (owner cost as percentage of household income): 17.9%
Home Value Growth (percentage change 2009-2015): 38%
Population Growth (percentage change 2010-2015: 23%
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 5.6
Education: College (percentage 25+ with at least a Bachelor's): 63.4%
Education: High School (percentage 25+ with a diploma): 97.4%

2.The Nature and Activities

The Woodlands is home to 7,790 acres of green space. That consists of almost 210 biking and hiking paths/trails, 135 parks, and 14 swimming pools – all for residents to enjoy! The vast amount of parks provides families with basketball courts, playgrounds, athletic program spaces, and areas for picnics and barbeques.

Have you thought about taking up Tai Chi? Learning Spanish? Kayaking? Fly Casting? You can choose from thousands – yes, THOUSANDS – of recreational programs that The Woodlands makes available to residents. It’s safe to say you and your family won’t become bored easily.

3.The Dining, Shopping, and Entertainment

Did someone say variety? Choose from over 200 restaurants (including Hughes Landing’s Restaurant Row) for family dinners and nights out. Whether you want to grab a bite at your favorite chain or check out the local talent, you won’t be disappointed.

Shop upscale at Market Street, The Woodlands Mall, Portofino Shopping Center, and Hughes Landing. You’ll find everything from antiques to the latest fashion trends to hair care to musical instruments. The Woodlands doesn’t skip a beat.

Stay entertained with prime events and locations like Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, the Arts Festival, Insperity Golf Championship, and Waterway Square (and did we mention Hughes Landing?). You’ll even find special events and days planned throughout the year, such as Kids Night Out – Jedi Force Friday, Taste of the Town, Arts in the Park, Teen Talent Show, Waterway Nights and SO much more!

4.The Schools

The Woodlands has two major school districts: Conroe Independent School District and Tomball Independent School District. If you haven’t noticed the trend yet, The Woodlands is all about choices! Schools are no exception. Many people move here just for the schools alone, which are excellently rated. Below is a list of all of The Woodlands’ schools:

Elementary: Bucklaw Elementary, Bush Elementary, Coulson Tough Elementary, Creekside Forest Elementary, David Elementary, Galatas Elementary, Glen Loch Elementary, Kaufman Elementary, Lamar Elementary, Oak Ridge Elementary, Powell Elementary, Ride Elementary, and Sam K. Hailey Elementary

Middle: Collins Intermediate, Deretchin Intermediate, Knox Junior High, McCullough Junior High, Mitchell Intermediate, Vogel Intermediate, Wilkerson Intermediate, and York Junior High

High: Oak Ridge High, The Woodlands College Park High, and The Woodlands High

5.The Medical Care

Houston houses some of the biggest and the best world-class medical centers, including Memorial Hermann, St. Luke’s Health, Texas Children’s Hospital and Houston Methodist. The superb medical care attracts patients from all over the world. If you and your family are looking for a small or private practice, specialists, and quality medical care – you will find it in The Woodlands. For a complete list of hospitals, private practices, specialists, and more, click here.