Your Guide to the Best Suburbs in Houston

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Houston is an enormous city made up of 2,345,606 people. From the lack of a state income tax to the highly rated schools, delicious food, and closeness to the ocean, it’s no surprise why the metro area had the third-biggest influx of residents out of all the metro areas in the U.S. during the first part of the pandemic (births included).

The metro area is also known for being home to the U.S.’s top-rated city to move to (psst… The Woodlands – more on this enchanting suburb below).

With so many potential suburbs to move to in Houston, we decided to put together a comprehensive guide on the best suburbs in Houston for both families and young professionals.

Stay tuned for all you need to know!

The best suburbs in Houston

As with any move, there are advantages and disadvantages. Moving to Houston is no exception. But if you ask us, the pros far outweigh the cons, which might include traffic. (This is less of a problem in the smaller suburbs!)

So, why do we adore Houston so much? Well, for starters, it has a more affordable cost of living than many other major cities throughout the U.S. It’s also known for its art, cultural diversity, and abundance of activities for people of all ages.

If you’re considering moving to Space City with your family, you can feel confident that there are many wonderful schools right in the suburbs. And if you’re moving here as a single or young professional, you’ll find a great assortment of lively suburbs that might just fit the bill.

Now, for the question of the day: what are the best suburbs in Houston, Texas? Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Best suburbs of Houston for families

Houston is a great choice for a city if you’re considering having kids, or maybe you already have kids and want somewhere more affordable to move to than your current city without sacrificing the quality of schools.

The city has lots to do for parents, kids, and families as a whole, with amenities on every corner. See below for some of the best suburbs in Houston for families:

The Woodlands

As we mentioned above, one of the best Houston suburbs (especially for families) is The Woodlands. It boasts several impressive titles, including “#1 best city to live in America,” “#2 best city to buy a house in America,” and “#2 best city to raise a family in America.”

(You can imagine why we included it on our list of best neighborhoods in Houston for 2022!)

Where is The Woodlands exactly? It’s in the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metro area, north if you’re traveling from Houston itself on I-45. Some of the top places to work in the area include Baker Hughes, CB&I, and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.

As for schools, there are 62 nearby, many of which are highly rated (an A+, to be exact). Some of the schools include David Elementary School, Bush Elementary School, Mitchell Intermediate School, McCullough Junior High School, The Woodlands High School, and the Academy of Science & Technology.

When it comes to activities for families in The Woodlands, you have many to choose from. That includes the Play Street Museum, The Woodlands Children’s Museum, IGi Playground The Woodlands, and Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter. For restaurants, you’ll find the Olive Oil Restaurant, the Republic Grille, Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, and Via Emilia Italian Restaurant–all in The Woodlands.

Cinco Ranch

Cinco Ranch is one of the most charming places to call home in Houston, situated in Fort Bend and Harris Counties about 10 miles from Katy, Texas. This suburb gets As all around for its general family-friendliness, housing, diversity, and schools.

Regarding life in Cinco Ranch, one person says, “We moved to cinco ranch from west Houston last year. The amenities are amazing. Now that we live here I’m not sure we would ever move away. 11 pools to choose from really helps you get thru brutal summers.”

If you want an honest living with a short commute, consider one of the following employers: Katy ISD, Houston Methodist West, Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, Geico, BP North America, or Amazon.

As for schools, the Cinco Ranch area has many great options, including but not limited to Edna Mae Fielder Elementary School, Jo Ella Exley Elementary School, Cinco Ranch Junior High School, Beckendorff Junior High School, and Cinco Ranch High School.

But life isn’t just about work and school. There should be some time for play, too! And that’s what these fun places come in handy for: the Play Street Museum, Color Me Mine, and USA Ninja Challenge – Katy. After you check out one of those places, consider stopping by Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Fish City Grill, Tobiuo, Sweet Paris, or Dish Society for something tasty to eat.

Spring Valley Village

Like the two suburbs we covered above, Spring Valley Village makes the list as one of the top suburbs of Houston for families. It’s conveniently located in the west-central part of Harris County, north if you’re coming from Interstate Highway 10 or U.S. Highway 90.

The local schools include The Bear Boulevard School, Valley Oaks Elementary, Spring Branch Middle School, Cornerstone Academy, and Memorial High School. If your kiddos are hungry after school, or you simply want to enjoy a late weekday lunch with the family, we recommend popping over to the Avalon Diner, KP’s Kitchen, Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina, Jonathan’s The Rub, or Federal American Grill.

When it comes to activities for families in this Houston suburb, you also have many options. You can check out Spring Valley Village Park, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, or the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center.

Now that your kids are covered, you should know there are many good companies to work for nearby as well. For instance, you could apply at the Spring Valley Village City Hall, Spring Valley Town Center, and numerous other companies. You could also commute to the inner city for work, considering that it’s only a short drive away.

Best Houston suburbs for young professionals and singles

Moving to Houston as a young professional, we know there are probably a few things on your mind. For example:

What are the best places to live in Houston for young adults?
What is the best place to live in Houston for singles?
Are there colleges and universities in the area?
What is there to do nearby?
What are the potential places to work?

The bottom line is this: Houston caters perfectly to young professionals and singles. There are various places to attend school, many affordable homes and apartments at your disposal, and multiple places to work, especially in aerospace and aviation, manufacturing, and energy. Read on for some of the best Houston suburbs for young professionals and singles:

West University Place

There’s no going wrong if you move to West University Place as a professional working your way up the corporate ladder. This thriving suburb is in southwest Harris County, just under 7 miles from downtown, making it one of the closest suburbs to Houston.

The crime rate is lower than many other parts of Houston, and there are many amenities nearby that you’d find in some of the larger suburbs around the city. However, the best thing about West University Place is that, despite its close proximity to downtown and endless supply of activities, it has a low-key vibe that makes you feel like you’re living in rural Texas.

If you move to West University Place, some of the places to meet people in your age group include the pool and gym at the West University Place Recreation Center, Friends Park, Colonial Park, and various movie theaters.

Most people who live in West University Place commute outside of the suburb for work. However, if you do want to work right in the suburb, you may have luck finding a job at one of these 135+ businesses in the area.

Restaurant-wise, the suburb is home to Urban Bird Hot Chicken, Trendy Dumpling, Sixty Vines, Little Matt’s, and Tiger Noodle House–to name a few.

Nassau Bay

Nassau Bay is a beautiful suburb in southeast Houston near Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. If you are outdoorsy and enjoy time on the water, this suburb will be perfect for you. It’s close to the freeway and right in the technology scene, making it a great choice if you’re looking to work for a tech company or another major corporation, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, IBM, or GB Tech.

One person living in Nassau Bay says, “I absolutely love Nassau Bay- I always have. The community is close and friendly, neighbors look out for each other and there is always some celebration or neighborhood improvement being planned.”

They also go on to say, “There are a bunch of beautiful out-of-the-way spots with trees and water access that are great for being outdoors and the city is a bird sanctuary so I’ve sometimes seen rare or endangered species wandering the parks. Beautiful, friendly place.”

When it comes to activities in Nassau Bay, you can look forward to hiking around the Nassau Bay Wildlife Peninsula, walking the boardwalk, and checking out the Space Center Houston. (As you can tell, there’s a lot to do right on the water!)

For food, the suburb offers cuisine of all kinds. You’ll definitely want to stop by these top restaurants: Bon Appetit Cafe, Vietnam Chef, Kasra, Salata, Akimi, and Tommy’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar.

Colleagues networking over a bite to eat.

Need a hand moving to Houston?

Moving can be a long, stressful process, but the right movers can make it a piece of cake. If you’re relocating to Houston, Texas, Bellhop is here to help. We can assist with your local or long-distance move to Houston with just a few days’ notice.
Book a move online now, and let us help with your move to one of the best suburbs in Houston.

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Tyler Brown

Tyler has been with Bellhop since 2022. When not working on making moving experience awesome, Tyler enjoys biking through new cities all over the country, figuring out where his next meal is going to be, and fantasizing about where he might live next. He's currently in Richmond, Virginia.