Woodbranch

The Woodbranch subdivision got its name because of the abundance of trees in the area. A few years later, Woodbranch residents incorporated the subdivision, adding "village" to the neighborhood name. Whether you call it Woodbranch or Woodbranch Village, it is a small city in Montgomery County that roughly 1,330 residents call home. "Woodbranch is a long-established subdivision with its own police department. Built in the 1960s, many original owners are still here," says Elizabeth Harrell, a Woodbranch resident and broker with Rhoden Real Estate for nearly a decade. Two reasons residents never seem to leave are the low taxes and no homeowner's association — meaning no added living fees, Harrell says.

"As the name would suggest, there are a lot of woods around the neighborhood. It's a more natural setting," Harrell says. Speaking of nature, most of Woodbranch's streets are named after trees. You could live on Dogwood Trail, Elm Street or Sycamore Drive, to name a few. Home prices in Woodbranch start around $270,000 and can reach up to $390,000. Empty lots are also commonly for sale, ranging from $40,000 to $150,000. Driving amongst Woodbranch's tall, lush trees and vegetation makes the neighborhood feel like a hidden getaway. These roads ensconce the area's homes, many on lots close to half an acre or even bigger. "With these larger lots, you're not sitting on top of your neighbors," Harrell says. You'll find a mix of ranch styles and colonials with three or four bedrooms. Homes feature brick facades with slanted roofs, long driveways, plentiful windows and plenty of privacy.

The New Caney Independent School District serves Woodbranch families. The neighborhood's youngest learners can start at Tavola Elementary School before attending Keefer Crossing Middle School. Both have an overall B-minus rating from Niche. Being a Texas high school, New Caney High School has a robust football program, but it also has a powerlifting program. The boys' and girls' powerlifting teams have advanced to the state championships. New Caney High has a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1 and an overall B rating from Niche.

Woodbranch offers several opportunities for outdoor adventure, from nature trails to parks and a local creek. On the neighborhood's southern edge is Roman Forest Park, which provides residents access to a playground, swimming pool, splash pad and picnic area. From a small beach, residents can access Peach Creek to go for a swim or have a picnic. The creek is also a popular fishing spot. A few miles south of Woodbranch is Lake Houston Wilderness Park. Lake Houston Wilderness Park covers 5,000 acres of forest, giving visitors access to miles and miles of hiking and equestrian trails, a nature center, an archery range and more. In the summertime, Woodbranch residents can drive 3 miles north and spend their day at the Big Rivers Waterpark. Locals can visit the baby turtles and alligators after zipping down water slides and cooling off in pools and splash pads.

For life's conveniences, Valley Ranch Town Center, home to restaurants, shops and entertainment, is less than 5 miles from Woodbranch. Here, you can find a Kroger to stock up their fridge, a bank, a beauty supply store and a barber. For a fun night, you can catch a movie at Cinemark Valley Ranch and then grab a bite to eat from various restaurants like Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen.

While Woodbranch is a pretty rural area, having Interstate 69 traveling northeast-southwest through the neighborhood connects residents to everything they could need. And yet, if residents still need a big-city fix, they can hop on I-69 and drive roughly 33 miles south into downtown Houston. However, Harrell sees many people moving out of the city and up north, like Woodbranch, to escape the crowds.

Photography Contributed By

Ashley Boyles

Video By

Mark Barakat