Friendswood

“Friends” isn’t just a part of the name in this Southeast Houston-area enclave. Rather, “friends” is part of this town’s fabric. Friendswood is known in part for its close-knit populace. This is an area where everybody knows everybody, says local Realtor Troy Chase, team lead of Troy Chase Realty Group. The crime score here is significantly better than the national average, too, according to the CAP Index. “It’s multi-generation. People don’t leave Friendswood. They stay there,” Chase says. “There’s like generations that stay in that area. You got family names and stuff that are established.” The top-notch schools and array of amenities here — from shopping to parks — don’t hurt either. There are houses in this area that date back to the 1950s, and home seekers can find properties constructed in just about every decade since. Friendswood has roots as a late 19th-century Quaker colony and began to grow into a Houston bedroom community in the era after World War II. The present-day product is the tranquil suburban atmosphere enveloping much of the area. Friendswood is filled with sidewalk-lined residential streets lined with grassy green lawns and sizable homes. Options in Friendswood come with floor plans that average 2,325 square feet and lots stretch anywhere from one-fifth of an acre to several acres. The town features mostly single-family houses, but there are also select townhomes and condos here, usually priced from the mid-$100,000s to the high $200,000s. Traditional single-family homes can start in the high $100,000s for a property that needs work, and top out at around $2 million for a home pushing 5,000 square feet, on multiple acres. This area is served by the Friendswood Independent School District, which boasts an A-plus overall grade on Niche and is No. 1 on the site’s list of the best school systems across Galveston County. A student’s elementary school depends on where in town they live, but a possible track is to start at the A-rated C.W. Cline Elementary, which is supported by a fiercely active PTO, backing a range of fundraisers and other programming. Students then move on to the district’s A-rated Friendswood Junior High, whose extracurricular opportunities include a robotics group. Friendswood High has an A-plus grade and is what Niche rates as the top high school in Galveston County. The high school’s career and technical education department has a wide range of programs, like manufacturing and hospitality and tourism. The high school is a catalyst for the neighborly bonds Friendswood residents share, too. “They’re all tied to the high school,” says Chase, who has been in real estate for several years. “There’s a ton of involvement.” The community is dotted with several parks locals can enjoy. Frankie Carter Randolph Park is one of the largest options, a 93-acre, tree-shaded expanse. The park encompasses a 2-mile trail, plus multiple multi-purpose athletic fields, a playground area, tennis courts and a volleyball court. Hoopers will enjoy Centennial Park for its multicourt, covered basketball pavilion, while anglers can drop a line or two at Lake Friendswood Park, which faces the regularly stocked, 33-acre Lake Friendswood. The commercial nucleus of Friendswood lives along the thoroughfare of Gulf Freeway, where locals can enjoy the almost 1.5-million-square-foot Baybrook Mall, which has more than 170 stores, from Abercrombie & Fitch to Zumiez. The Baybrook Mall area has one of the area’s top-notch restaurants as well: Perry's Steakhouse & Grille. Part of a chain, Perry’s is known in part for its pork chop. “Perry’s is really popular as an upscale dining experience,” Chase says. There’s also a Walmart, Sam’s Club, H-E-B and more nearby. Gulf Freeway parallels Interstate 45, a key transportation artery in the area. Locals can hop on I-45 to travel across the rest of the region. For example, I-45 can take commuters up to Downtown Houston in a trip of just about 20 miles. Friendswood hosts several events over the year, but one of the biggest is the town’s Fourth of July celebration. This is an all-day affair, kicking off with a parade in the morning and followed by food and live entertainment at Stevenson Park and Centennial Park, before fireworks at Centennial. Stevenson Park also hosts outdoor concerts in May and June, and movies in the park in July and August.