Please help (Houston, Sugar Land, The Woodlands: low crime, how much, good schools)

[shermomof3]

My boyfriend and I are going to be relocating to Houston area in January 2008 with our combined children of 5. Can anyone please give me advise on good family, low crime, good schools and somewhat lower population towns surrounding Houston. I don't want to live in Houston itself, I want a smaller city or town. I have lived in California all my life and want to find a smaller community to raise my children. California is not, In my opinion the best place to raise children. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[MSJones]

Well, that depends on a few things. Where will you be working? How far away from Houston do you want to live? Do you want to live in a suburb of the city?

[Supermac34]

Tomball, Magnolia on the NW side of town.

Rosenburg on the SW part of town.

[shermomof3]

I want to live more in the suburb. As of how far away from Houston, I would say no more then 45 minutes. I have been looking at Sugar land, Friendswood, La Porte, and Richmond. What do you think of those?

[MSJones]

I like Sugar Land and Friendswood, out of those you've named. Both are family oriented communities with good schools. I can't speak much on Richmond as I don't know that much about it. While I like La Porte, I think their schools are lacking, and getting worse.

I like Supermac's suggestions of Tomball and Magnolia, as well. A lot of folks here would tell you to check out The Woodlands, and you certainly can, although it's not my cup of tea. There's also Kingwood, Katy, and Pearland - all family oriented with good schools, although Pearland is growing like CRAZY.

Based on your requirements, you have quite a few options you can go with.

[Poltracker]

Need more info. How much do you want to pay for a home? Where you will be working? What kind of amenities do you want (ie pools, parks, etc.)?

[MSJones]

Poltracker's right, too. What kind of money are you looking you spend on a home? The places we've named so far are generally thought to be more upper-middle class (save La Porte, really), for lack of a better term.

'Course, Poltracker and I live in the same town (Deer Park) and it's a pretty good place with good schools, also!

[shermomof3]

I looked up crime in Tomball and it looked like it had bad crime. I'm looking to spend $250,000 or under for a 5 or 6 bedroom house. I loved Sugarland but it seems to be growing so much and I was kinda looking for something smaller. I will keep researching all your suggestions and thank you all for your help and anything else you can tell me about Texas would be very helpful being that I have lived in California my whole life. I have to say though I can't wait to get out of Cali.

[shermomof3]

I want a city where they have parks and do things for holidays like fireworks, block parties, Christmas tree lighting, etc. A total family city rather then a party city.

[MSJones]

I have friends in Tomball and they've never complained about crime there. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Keep in mind that living near a big city, you're going to have *some* crime of some sort no matter where you are. As far as your budget, you're looking for a fairly large house, but it can be done. You'll just have to do some serious research to see what you come up with. Try har.com for house-shopping - here are some zip codes to check out:

Friendswood: 77546
La Porte: 77571
Richmond: 77469
Sugarland: 77478-77479

Houston is growing all the time, as are its suburbs, so unless you get pretty far out of the city, you're going to deal with expanding population. Sugarland is growing, sure, but so is most every other decent suburb of the city.

As far as fireworks, Christmas festivities, block parties, etc., those are probably specifics you'll have to get from folks who either live in the areas you're interested in, or by doing some research on the internet, if it's available. I can only tell you that these things do happen in Houston proper, as well as in the suburb I live in and a few near me.

Best of luck and please let me know if I can help further.