About 40 miles north of downtown Houston, Conroe, the county seat of Montgomery County, is feeling the effects of Houston's boom. Conroe's population has grown by 60% in the last decade, to around 114,000 residents, as people seek more rural surroundings. "Houston [has] a lot of asphalt," says Monica Bresofski, a broker with One Property Group and lifelong Houstonian. "Here, you'll have some rolling hills. Very small ones, but still, it's not flat like Houston."
Beyond the city's hilly terrain is 21,000-acre Lake Conroe, a popular spot for boating and fishing. Conroe also has a vibrant downtown with local shops, restaurants and art galleries housed in historic red-brick buildings. The city's largest employers include the Conroe Independent School District, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital and CHI St. Luke's Health The Woodlands Hospital.
Downtown Conroe is a hub of activity with many options of unique restaurants and live music.
These original, historic brick buildings were built after the fire of 1911 in Conroe.
Bareback riding is popular along those attending the Montgomery County Fair in Conroe.
Lake Conroe near Walden is the heart of the area and offers fun for the whole family.
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Conroe's growth is exceptionally rapid
Growth in Conroe has been so rapid that in August 2024, the city enacted a temporary 120-day moratorium on commercial and residential development. One of the main reasons is that Conroe's current water infrastructure cannot sustain the pace at which it's growing. "A lot of the development is off [highways] 242, 105 and especially down 105," says Liz Hunter, a Realtor with eXp Realty who's lived in Conroe for a decade.
Lake Conroe offers waterfront living on the city's far west side, which is more densely built up than east and northeast Conroe. The southern section of Conroe is known for its master-planned communities, the newest being Evergreen Communities and the most established being The Woodlands. While The Woodlands is considered older, it's still one of Conroe's most coveted areas. The median home price in Conroe is $318,000 while the median home price in The Woodlands — which is so large it extends into the cities of Spring and Tomball — is around $535,000. Local news outlets have reported Conroe’s median home price has increased 40% since 2019.
A two-story, Cape Cod home in Conroe with a large lot.
Some Conroe homes right off of Lake Conroe even have an attached, private boat ramp.
A two-story, Contemporary home is a typical home in Conroe.
The residents of the Bella Vista neighborhood in Conroe have direct access to Lake Conroe.
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Conroe's residents are 10 minutes from a park
The Trust for Public Land estimates that 23% of Conroe's residents are just a 10-minute walk from a public park. Candy Cane Park is the city's flagship park, with three playgrounds, tennis courts, pickleball courts and basketball courts. Loren Arnold, the assistant director for park operations, notes that the park's main draw is its familiarity. "It's one of our earliest parks. Everybody who grew up in Conroe knows Candy Cane Park." It's near downtown Conroe, in the same general area as the Conroe Aquatic Center and senior center. McDade Park and John Burge Park at Shadow Lakes are also popular for their disc golf courses.
Conroe's most notable natural feature is its 21,000-acre lake, which is popular for boating, jet skiing and fishing. The lake was established in the 1970s, creating Conroe's first tourist attraction. To the north and northeast, the 163,000-acre Sam Houston National Forest is another popular natural attraction. Its vast acreage preserves the diverse ecosystems of the Piney Woods ecoregion. Hikers head there to walk the state's longest hiking route, the 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail.
Local Grand Republic residents can head over to the nearby Lake Conroe to cast a line.
Skaters practice their tricks at Kamiersky Skate Park in Conroe.
Conroe locals enjoy taking their boat out at the Sam Houston National Forest.
Candy Cane Park is a local treasure and flagship park of the city of Conroe.
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Wining and dining in Conroe
Conroe's recent growth has been accompanied by a booming dining scene, with many restaurants located in The Woodlands area. Waterfront restaurants along Lake Conroe are also popular, as is Downtown Conroe, where residents find hyper-local fare. "You still find mom-and-pop restaurants there that everyone just flocks to because the food is so good," Hunter says. While there, locals can catch a concert at the historic Crighton Theatre, a mainstay for over 80 years. Downtown also hosts one of Conroe's largest events each year, The Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival. "That's what we're known for," Bresofski says.
For shopping, there's the Woodlands Mall, which houses over 160 restaurants and stores and is situated along The Woodlands Waterway. The waterway is a major feature of The Woodlands, connecting most area highlights and feeding into the 200-acre Lake Woodlands.
Woodlands Mall visitors navigate its vibrant retail hub near Security.
Patrons at Red Brick Tavern chat during their lunch break in Conroe.
The Woodlands Waterway is a haven of luxurious dining and high end retail near Conroe.
Conroe Lake House is a popular spot to grab a meal and sit out on the patio.
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More hot days than not in Conroe
Conroe has had several 500-year floods — three of which were sequential, from 2015 to 2017. The last major flood was during 2017's Hurricane Harvey when 32 inches of rain fell on the city within one hour. The residential areas orbiting the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, which passes along the western side of Conroe, are most prone to flooding. Around 5 million Texans are affected by flooding, leading to a statewide flood plan adopted in 2024. Key proposals in that policy surround expanding early warning systems, enhancing dam and levee safety programs and to strengthening building and infrastructure standards.
Summers are hot and well into in the fall it stays warm and winters are mild. “Every now and then during Christmas it does get cold but January and February are our coldest months out of the year when the average is in 50s,” Bresofski says.
Wood Forest prioritizes the environment with vast, natural green spaces.
Summer Moon Coffee is a local favorite to warm up with hot chocolate during Conroe's winter.
Walden offers homes surrounded by nature and right off the water.
Children love cooling off by playing with oversized bubbles at the Conroe Kidzfest.
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Strong schools at Conroe ISD
The Conroe Independent School District (ISD) earns an A rating on Niche. Niche has also named it the best school district in Montgomery County for four years. The top-performing schools within the district are in The Woodlands, and Bresofski says people will move to that master-planned community specifically for them. The Woodlands High School earns an impressive A-plus rating on Niche and consistently ranks highly for academics and the arts. Students in Conroe ISD may also opt for application-based charter schools, whether Founders Classical Academy, Rubicon Academy or Quest Collegiate Academy. There are over 20 private school options in the city, many of which are faith-based and represent diverse denominations.
Lone Star College, a community college with over 80,000 enrolled students, has a satellite school in Conroe. Universities within 50 miles include the University of Houston, Rice University and Texas Southern University. Established in 1912, Rice University is located in Houston’s Museum District and has a small student body of just over 4,500. As of 2024, it ranked in the top 10 colleges on Forbes’ list.
Neil A. Armstrong Elementary in Conroe ensure that all students are challenged to grow.
The goal for Peet Jr High in Conroe is for all students to feel loved, accepted and to grow.
The Woodlands High School near Conroe .
Conroe High School in Conroe is a safe environment that promotes challenging programs.
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Highway access to Houston and beyond
Several major highways pass through Conroe: State Highway 105, Texas State Highway 242, Texas 75, South Loop 336 and Interstate 45, which leads to Houston, 40 miles away. Commuters can also take advantage of the city's Park & Ride Commuter Bus Service in connection with the Houston-Galveston Area Council and Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. This service takes travelers to downtown Houston, the VA hospital and Texas Medical Center. Conroe operates the Conroe Connection bus service with four fixed routes and ADA paratransit services within three-quarters of a mile of those routes. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is within 30 miles of Conroe. It offers nonstop flights through dozens of airlines to over 180 international and domestic destinations.
Conroe's Citizens Police Academy
The city’s total crime rate is well below the national rate. In February 2024, the Conroe Police Department inaugurated a Citizens Police Academy program to educate residents about how the department fights crime on a daily basis.
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