The Woodlands

Ranked as the top city to buy a house in the country by Niche, The Woodlands consists of 9 villages. Established in the mid-1990s, Alden Bridge is among the largest communities of The Woodlands. Offering nearly dozens of parks and miles of trails, Alden Bridge is 37 miles north of Houston, providing high-end shopping, highly rated schools and plenty of job opportunities, ensuring minimal trips to the city. "The area was built to highlight its natural surroundings," says Aaron Rogers, a real estate agent with Re/Max The Woodlands & Spring. "A row of trees surrounds everything, so when driving through, it feels like being in the quiet countryside." Members of the community have a plethora of escapes nearby to get outside and stay active. Birdwatchers can find endangered Red-cockaded woodpeckers at The William Goodrich Jones State Forest, which spans 1,700 acres and has 15 miles of horseback riding and walking trails. Lakeside Park and Windvale Park offer public pools for cooling off in the Texas heat, and Alden Bridge Sports Park is the go-to spot for athletes. Parents can drop off their kids to play on the baseball diamonds, soccer fields or lacrosse fields before tending to their plots in the attached community garden. The well-rounded Bear Branch Park fills in the gaps with a dog park, skate park, ice hockey rink and rec center regularly hosting fitness classes like Tai Chi. There are plenty of places to play a round for golfers in the area, with The Woodlands Country Club and the Club at Carlton Woods only 3 miles south. The Alden Bridge Village Center is in the middle of the neighborhood, bringing convenient shopping and dining to the area. Kroger, medical offices, small shops and a few restaurants make up the shopping plaza, and more familiar stores, grocers and national food chains are on the neighborhood's western border. About 6 miles east is the retail star of the area, Woodlands Town Center. Locals can visit the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for a covered outdoor show or take the kids to the Play Street Museum after shopping. Near the town center, Schilleci's is a New Orleans Cajun-style restaurant with classic seafood platters and po-boys. Closer to home, Uli's Kitchen serves Tex-Mex cuisine, including flights of salsa, fish tacos and ossobuco. With street names like Floral Leaf Circle and Empire Forest Place, it's no surprise that thickets of cypress and elm trees border each neighborhood. "Some of the homes are older because people live there their entire lives," Roger says. "When Colonial Revival and Cape Cod style houses go on the market, which is rare, there are often renovations." Most of the neighborhood's houses were built in the late 1990s and early 2000s, displaying modern Craftsman architecture with multi-pitched roofs. Single-family homes offer near or over 3,000 square feet with pools out back. Sidewalks are uncommon, but residents can walk the tightly packed neighborhoods on quiet, shaded streets. Prices range from $300,000 for townhouses to $1 million for custom builds. Aside from monthly meetings, the Alden Bridge Village Association organizes house decorating contests for Halloween and Christmas, pool parties and fundraisers. The Alden Bridge Village Fall Festival is a family affair with a petting zoo set up in November, and the Spring Festival takes place in March. The Woodlands Farmer's Market is every Saturday in Grogan's Mill, southeast of Alden Bridge. Residents from the surrounding area come for seasonal produce and sustainably sourced protein. Students in the community may be a part of the highly rated Conroe Independent School District that hosts career and technical education programs with 13 career cluster options, including 26 programs for students. Families are within walking distance of several elementary schools, including Buckalew Elementary, which received an A from Niche. Mitchell Intermediate is the area's middle school and is also rated an A. In addition to thriving in sports and arts, the A-plus Woodlands High hosts after-school clubs in technology & coding, astronomy, and finance. Alden Bridge is 40 miles from downtown Houston. Despite lacking public transportation, residents can get to the city in around an hour using Interstate 45. 30 miles north of George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 5 miles of St. Luke's Health; Alden Bridge has access to every amenity.

Cochran's Crossing is at the center of 10 villages making up The Woodlands, Texas. "Each has a shopping hub and The Woodlands also has over 200 miles of walk and bike trails creating commuter paths between them," says local sales associate Tina Saalwaechter of Coldwell Banker Realty. Residents may be around 40 miles from downtown Houston, but they’re just a peddle away from great schools, immersive parks and everyday amenities. Compared to many areas in Houston, where new construction is springing up like prairie weeds, properties here trail back to the '90s. Homes are also $200,000 less in Cochran's Crossing than in Sterling Ridge, its next-door neighbor. It wouldn't be The Woodlands if there weren't a ton of trees. Properties in Cochran's Crossing are true members of this community, settling under a blanket of greenery. Most are brick Neo Traditionals, some showcasing elegant stonework, French doors, casement windows and A-frame roofs. Many also have luxury amenities, like pools and large patios. While the average value of a property in Cochran's Crossing is around $600,000, a four-bedroom traditional built in the '80s was recently valued at around $300,000. Conversely, a custom-built house overlooking a golf course costs over a million. Properties tend to sell within 21 days, faster than the national average of 41. Cochran students attend the Conroe Independent School District, with an overall A rating from Niche and 60 facilities. Homes are zoned to different schools in the district, so parents will want to check before purchasing a property, but one complete pathway is David Elementary School, Knox Junior High School and The Woodlands College Park High School. The elementary and junior high schools earn A scores from Niche, while the high school maintains an impressive A plus. For both its athletic and academic prowess, the high school is also a five-time University Interscholastic League Lone Star Cup holder. Retail in Cochran's Crossing centers around Research Forest Drive and Gosling Road. Cochran's Crossing Village Center has everything from a Kroger for grocery hauls, banks, a fitness center, dentist's office, shops and eateries. While there's a Subway and McDonald's for quick stops, Honey Bee Ham & Deli has local charm that makes people want to stay a while. Ragz Fashion Boutique, a women's clothing store, is just next door for a bit of perusing. Locals can also stop by Mōtiv Fitness for yoga and Barre classes and then enjoy a refreshing smoothie at Nekter Juice Bar afterward. Just 5 miles away at Town Center — The Woodlands downtown area — there's also The Woodlands Mall with box chains like Foot Locker, Chicos, Nordstrom and more. With 150 parks total in The Woodlands, green space is plentiful. The village's own Bear Branch Park has a long list of amenities from several dog parks to seven sports courts and an indoor fitness center with a variety of strength training equipment. The park has a new playground sturdy enough for adults to follow their kids as they play, a fishing pond and shady picnic areas. For golf lovers, The Woodlands Country Club is on the western side of the neighborhood. Membership includes access to their social calendar, which features parties, holiday events and classes. Locals also have small local pocket parks to choose from, like Mystic Forest Park, as well as miles of trails at the 1,800 acre George Mitchell Nature Preserve, 5 miles South off Flintridge Drive. "People take their kayaks to Lake Woodlands as well," Saalwaechter adds. This 200-acre fresh water lake is under 4 miles away via Research Forest Drive. Town Center is the epicenter of local events that crop up yearly. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival happens each spring and will soon celebrate its 19th season. Locals who appreciate the spectrum of fine art enjoy returning to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from mixed media to photography, sculpture, woodworking and more. There is no public bus route from Cochran to the downtown area, but the village circumference is only a few miles in each direction, and commuter paths are plenty. For medical needs, the 500-bed Memorial Hermann is less than 5 miles from home. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is 26 miles northwest via Hardy Toll Road.

East Shore offers something rare in Texas: waterfront property. This neighborhood is one-fourth water, ideally placed within The Woodlands about 30 miles north of Houston. On the west are lakefront homes and neighborhoods, and to the north and east is everything this modern planned community offers. “The East Shore island has been around for many, many years, and it’s a nesting home for bald eagles. The community of East Shore came together and made sure it stayed protected, which was a great thing to see. That’s what we do here,” says Beth Ferester, a local of East Shore and owner and Realtor at Corcoran Ferester Realty. “East Shore is made for all the residents to enjoy the lake, not just the ones with the privilege of waterfront property. The sidewalks wind all around, and it shares the privilege with everyone.” The homes of East Shore are highly varied, and the waterfront property is luxurious. Neoclassical Colonial Revivals of several thousand square feet with white columns and shuttered windows sit on the calm waters of Lake Woodlands. Further east, the neighborhood is filled with cul-de-sacs and winding streets on which stately white Federal-style townhouses stand. “East Bay Boulevard was inspired by homes in Charleston, very Southern,” Ferester says. “We’re the only community in The Woodlands with a private clubhouse. There’s a huge pool, outdoor kitchen, gym and right on the waterway. There’s not much land left for new construction, except for the island, but that’s protected.” Townhouses sell between $600,000 and $800,000, while detached homes have a drastic range. A three-bedroom modern stucco home can sell for $950,000, while a five-bedroom Georgian mansion can sell for $2.5 million. East Shore is zoned for the Conroe Independent School District, and kids can start at Lamar Elementary, rated with an A on Niche and has a thriving dual language program. Students move on to Collins Intermediate before heading to Knox Junior High, both of which receive A’s for acclaimed academics. Meanwhile, about 5 miles north of the East Shore, The Woodlands College Park High has a stellar A-plus ranking, offers 130 electives for students to participate in and a dual credit option in which upper-level students can enroll in college courses. “We have a main bridge over the waterway where you can get to Market Street, Whole Foods, all that. There are trolleys that run too, so you can easily pick up a trolley and head over,” Ferester points out. Market Street is a huge outdoor shopping mall with many retailers, and residents can find several highly-rated restaurants on the lakeside, such as Truluck’s, an upscale seafood eatery. There’s plenty to see without crossing the waterway, however. Heading south on Grogans Mill Road, there are several small businesses, restaurants such as popular breakfast spot The Toasted Yolk, condos and the kid-friendly Play Street Museum. The neighborhood has several parks, from the waterside gazebo at Southshore Park to the scenic walking trails that circle the pond at Olmstead Park. “The whole area is so walkable, with gorgeous parks. Ellipse Park is considered the dog park of the community, and we all take our dogs there to play around,” Ferester says. A system of greenways runs along Lake Woodlands and east along one of its broader tributaries, offering residents the chance to jog or bike from the lake into town. Lake Woodlands is, of course, a neighborhood gem. Totaling 200 acres of freshwater, it’s extremely popular for kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Just across the waterway, locals have premier access to community events. The annual Rock the Row free concert series takes place at Hughes Landing on Thursdays each spring and fall, while the neighboring Northshore Park is a favorite spot to attend free outdoor Concerts in the Park and a huge Fourth of July festival. The main thoroughfare of Woodlands Parkway connects to Interstate 45, which takes residents 30 miles into downtown Houston. The neighborhood is safely walkable and bikeable, with the trolley running for access to other villages in The Woodlands. Along Grogans Mill Road, The Woodlands Medical Center is just 2 miles away.

The oldest village in The Woodlands, Grogan’s Mill holds onto its traditions and original design, with large lots and old-growth trees, while also making room for new construction and revitalized shopping and dining hubs. “Grogan’s Mill has seen a lot of growth over the years,” says Cheryle Sanderson, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, who has sold more than 30 homes in Grogan’s Mill. “There are golf courses, plenty of restaurants and shopping, and everyday amenities. It’s a staycation, so you never have to leave home. You get the seclusion but still have access because you’re close to the freeway.” Walkable cul-de-sac subdivisions are lined with ranch homes, Greek Revivals, new traditionals and sprawling mansions. Yards are typically a quarter-acre or more, which Sanderson says is one of the neighborhood’s biggest draws. Groves of trees surround the well-maintained lawns, some overlooking lakes and golf courses. Prices here are also varied, with two- to four-bedroom options listed anywhere between $285,000 and $785,000. Larger homes and those on up to 5 acres range from $800,000 to $4.4 million. Townhouses and condos are also an option for those who want less upkeep. Prices for these multi-family homes typically hover between $275,000 and $405,000. The highest price point for a townhouse or condo can surpass the $1 million mark if it features four bedrooms and lakeside or golf course views. The Village of Grogan’s Mill is served by five public schools, all within the Conroe Independent School District. Students will attend Hailey or Lamar Elementary before filtering through Wilkerson Intermediate School and Knox Junior High School. Each of the four schools earns an A rating from Niche. At The Woodland College Park High School, which gets an A-plus from Niche, students can enroll in the Academy of Science and Technology to take magnet courses and job shadow professionals in the technical, science and medical fields. With a dozen parks throughout Grogan’s Mill, along with small lakes and shaded trails, locals have plenty of options to get fresh air. Two of the largest include Grogan’s Point Park and Sawmill Park. The former fills nearly 7 acres in the neighborhood and features courts for basketball, tennis, pickleball and volleyball. Sawmill Park becomes a go-to during the summer when locals hop in the swimming pool to cool off. People can also take advantage of the park’s playground, tennis and volleyball courts. The Grogan’s Mill Nature Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back-again paved pathway used by hikers and bikers. Additional trails wind throughout the village, with access points at smaller pocket parks like Logger’s Hollow or Tamarac Park, which also features fenced-in space for dogs to roam. Golfers can join the private club to play on one of five courses, two of which were designed by Gary Player and Arnold Palmer, at The Woodlands Country Club. After joining, members can use the club’s tennis courts, swimming pool and fitness facilities or join friends and family for a meal at restaurants like Iron + Wood, Mitchell’s or Legends. One of the regular events in Grogan’s Mill is the weekly farmers market. It’s hosted each Saturday from 9 until noon throughout the summer. For the rest of the year, it runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Market at Grogan’s Mill. Locals have been stopping by the market since 2008 to find fresh produce, homemade soaps and locally grown flowers. The Village of Grogan’s Mill was designed to put everyday conveniences within reach, including pharmacies, a fire station and grocery stores. Small and large shopping complexes alike are scattered throughout the area. Grogan’s Mill Village Center comprises The Woodlands Farmers Market, along with a few local eateries like Becks Prime. Plans are in the works to build a community center and a library in the complex. Situated near the village’s southern end is the Woodwinds Shopping Mall, where locals can stop for groceries at H-E-B or flip through the shelves at Buy The Book. For a meal out, Sanderson recommends Amerigo’s, a vibrant Italian spot she says “has been there forever and is known among longtime residents. The wait staff and the owners are wonderful.” Third Gen Coffee is also nearby, where many locals pull up a chair to the window seating while enjoying their breakfast. Just 2.5 miles north is The Woodlands Mall, the most expansive shopping center in the area. Locals will find big box stores like Free People, Nordstrom and The Apple Store. There’s also a Cinemark movie theater and chain restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory dotted around the mall. A perk for many residents of Grogan’s Mill is the proximity to Interstate 45. Locals can take the freeway into the heart of Houston, 28.5 miles south. To avoid toll roads, people also use the interstate to reach George Bush Intercontinental Airport, about 21.5 miles away. Access to medical care is much closer. Locals can drive roughly 4 miles north along North Freeway Service Road to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, just north of The Woodlands Mall. There are public transit options through The Woodlands Express Park & Ride, with a stop just off Westridge Drive, connecting locals to prominent spots throughout Houston.

Indian Springs is the smallest village of The Woodlands, a master-planned community around 30 miles from downtown Houston. Neighbors live within a bubble where transitioning from work, life, and play is designed to be easier. "People don't really swallow what master-planned means until they move to The Woodlands," says local Realtor Jordan Schilleci. "It's a place where you can be present, breathe, focus and live," she says. In Indian Springs, neighborhood amenities are all connected via hiking and biking paths. Meanwhile, major community anchors from The Woodland's event pavilion to its lakeside shopping are a convenient drive away. Aside from being the smallest community, this village is a prominent gateway to the George Mitchell Nature Preserve. This makes it extra verdant, even for The Woodlands, which is known for its thriving trees and forest-like feeling. In fact, Indian Springs is known as the only village in The Woodlands with rolling hills. The Woodlands is mostly built out with hardly any space for new construction. "There was a very, very small portion of land that never got developed, but it is being developed right this second. It's south of Indian Springs and north of Creekside Park," Schilleci says. "Most of the homes in the Woodlands were built before the 2008 economic crash ... so a lot of them are super, super well built. Everything has really good bones, and all the houses are aging well," she adds. Most properties in Indian Springs that are 2,000 square feet or less range from the high $300,000s to the mid $400,000s. Anything larger enters the $500,000 to $600,000 range. A few residences from the mid to early 2000s with over 6,000 square feet get over $2 million. Neighborhood streets are filled with large, fluffy trees and lined mostly by modest brick traditional homes. The larger and more lavish properties come with inground pools and backyard patios. Most students in The Woodlands attend the Conroe Independent School District but some attend Tomball ISD and Magnolia ISD. Students might start out at Coulson Tough Elementary School and filter into McCullough Junior High School from there. Within Conroe ISD there are only two high schools: The Woodlands High School and College Park High School. Both the elementary schools earn A ratings from Niche while the high schools score A plus. "Another thing people really like about Indian Springs is that John Cooper is in there. The most prestigious private school in The Woodlands," Schilleci says. The biggest and perhaps most popular parks in Indian Springs are Falconwing Park and Forestgate Park. There are also six smaller parks nestled within residential areas with playgrounds. "I love Falconwing Park because it has brand new Pickleball courts, and I'm huge into Pickleball. My husband and I love the community aspect," Schilleci says. "There are two to three open plays a week and all playing levels are welcome," she adds. Forestgate Park is heavily wooded, with trails winding through trees leading to play areas for kids and picnic tables. Of course, there's always the George Mitchell Preserve on the neighborhood's eastern edge. "There are no paved trails. It’s just nature meeting nature," Schilleci says. "There is no other way to describe it." The 200-acre Lake Woodlands, where people enjoy the trail looping around the water while others paddle in swan shaped boats, is just 5 miles east. "If I am having a hard day, I can pick up a picnic from Trader Joes and go to the water to watch people run, bicycle and hop on the trolley," she shares. Locals can take The Woodlands Town Center Trolleys between Market Street and The Woodlands Mall and to local events at the pavilion. The Woodlands also offers a park and ride service Monday through Friday which stops at area highlights from the Texas Medical Center to Greenway Plaza and the Central Business District of Houston. Tickets are $13 round trip. Locals can also rely on ADA Paratransit Services. The 220-mile trail network is also heavily used as a commuter path, according to Schilleci. The Woodland's Rock the Row summer series happens annually along the waterway just 5 miles east at Hughes Landing – locally known as "restaurant row." The event always draws a big crowd who sit on the lawn at the pavilion of the The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion or on the patio of a nearby restaurant sipping cocktails at happy hour as bands play in the background. "My dirty secret is the pina coladas," says Broker Rick Lamar. "I saw Chicago, Snoop Dog, and Shania Twain last year. They all come to the woodlands. You name it they come." Indian Springs has its own shopping centers where locals could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and make quick trips to the local nail salon, Petco, H-E-B, Trader Joes and even primary care services. Fuhgedaboudit Bagel Company is local to The Woodlands and their bread is made fresh each day. El Tiempo Cantina serves tex-mex classics in colorful, casual atmosphere that feels straight out of Mexico. Some travel to Market Street for upscale stores, including Louis Vitton. The Woodlands Mall is less than a mile east of Market Street on Lake Woodlands Drive for casual box chains, including Free People and Forever 21.

A lush tree canopy and waterfront views can be hard to find in the heart of Houston but are easily within reach in Panther Creek. The neighborhood is the second-oldest village in the Woodlands and is designed with all the conveniences of an established master-planned community. Panther Creek is one of the Woodlands’ most coveted villages for its centralized location and fast access to Interstate 45. The village also has a prime location along Lake Woodlands, which is a magnet for boat races and outdoor weekend concerts. Combined with elegant midcentury homes, conveniently located shopping and some of the top schools in the metro, Panther Creek pulls in Houstonians looking for natural beauty and modern convenience. Panther Creek is zoned in the Conroe Independent School District, which Niche named the best school district in Montgomery County. Glen Loch Elementary School and McCullough Junior High School both have A grades, and McCullough was recognized as the best middle school in the county. The area has two high schools, both rated A-plus by Niche. On the west side, students attend The Woodlands High School, named it the best high school in Montgomery County by Niche for its multiple advanced classes and career and technical programs. On the east side, students go to College Park High School, which houses the Academy of Science and Technology, a specialized STEM program. Panther Creek is within 7 miles of the Lone Star College Creekside Center. Northshore Park on Lake Woodlands Drive is located right on the shores of Lake Woodlands. The park is a popular starting point for local 5Ks and Iron Man races, and during the summertime, it’s filled with folding chairs and picnic blankets when locals attend outdoor concerts. “The Sunday night concerts at Northshore Park are fabulous,” says Betsy Rusell, a Realtor for Zarco Properties and a former teacher at McCullough Junior High School. “We went when our kids were little, and it was one of the things that made our youngest say she couldn’t wait to buy a home here.” On the other side of Panther Creek, George Mitchell Nature Preserve on Flintridge Drive has miles of mountain biking trails that cut through nearly 2,000 forested acres. The Woodlands is known for its elaborate Christmas light displays, and Panther Creek stands out for its holiday spirit. The Falling Star Lights is one of the village’s largest displays, featuring a 15-minute synchronized light show. Tangle Brush Drive, Windsail Place and Indian Clover Drive are also outfitted with thousands of lights and planned shows that run multiple times a night during December. “Every one of those activities is so well done and so big,” Russell says. “My daughter remembers going to these shows when she was a little girl, and they’re the same today.” The village’s main shopping center is Panther Creek Shopping Mall on West Panther Creek Drive. The mall is home to The Woodlands Children’s Museum, a popular interactive family attraction. On the other side of the museum, The Republic Grille is one of the most popular local restaurants and a favorite of Compass Realtor Emily Braud, who is also a Panther Creek resident. The Grille has a big outdoor patio where guests can enjoy reimagined Southern cuisine. A second shopping complex on Gosling Road has a Kroger and two other popular restaurants -- The Kitchen, a chic eatery known for its burgers, and Sakekawa, a Japanese restaurant with classic sushi and ramen. This center is surrounded by several of the neighborhood’s churches and synagogues. Most homes in Panther Creek take inspiration from traditional European architecture, including Greek and French Revival, and classic American styles like Cape Cods and ranch properties. These homes are settled into dense stands of trees on flat, easy-to-traverse streets. While there aren’t many sidewalks in the area, there are many pathways and footbridges that lead through the neighborhood’s forested sections. Panther Creek homes start at $300,000 for a simple ranch residence and can increase to $700,000 for a 3,000-square-foot French-inspired property. Homes on Lake Woodlands put a twist on English cottages, adding tall turrets and intricate columns. These lakefront estates can start at $1 million and top out at $6 million. Panther Creek has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 3, lower than the national average score of 4. Out of the Woodlands’ nine villages, Panther Creek is one of the closest to I-45. “The newer villages are farther away, but Panther Creek is almost directly in the center of the Woodlands,” Russell says. “The houses in Panther Creek are a little older, but people choose them over the newer houses for the location.” Woodlands Parkway cuts through Panther Creek and connects directly to the interstate. The neighborhood is 25 miles from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 33 miles from downtown Houston via I-45. For locals who work in Houston’s Energy Corridor, The Woodlands Express commuter bus travels directly into Houston’s fuel and energy hub.