By: Kimberly Davis Guerra

When I first moved to Houston from Miami, what amazed me about Houston was the amount of 'space' that was available for people to purchase. I was coming from the land of zero lot lines and homes so close that you truly got to know your neighbors since you could see right into their homes on any given day!

Nowhere was it more evident to me than the Woodlands. I originally looked to purchase my first home in the Woodlands because of all of the beautiful, green space they offered. That was a little over 15 years ago, and they still are one of the greenest communities in town! How appropriate that we look at this neighborhood in our 'green' issue!

Every month, we are going to throw a spotlight on neighborhoods around town that are great places to raise a family. We are going to highlight facts and figures and give you a quick snapshot of what life is like in these communities in the hopes that we are able to educate you enough to make an informed decision when you start to consider relocating your family.

We know that many of our readers find us when they go from that hot, hip couple to the petrified, new parents in search of information and support to transition into their next phase of life. We are proud to assist in guiding local parents through the trials and tribulations of becoming a mom or dad by connecting you with the experts in our community who can help. We believe that this column will continue in that tradition when you are looking to buy that new home for you ever expanding family.

What are the first things that pop in every parent’s minds when they are considering a new neighborhood for their family:
1 – Schools (Public or Private)
2 – Homes (Cost, Size, Style, Age, Taxes, Etc)
3 – Neighborhoods (Location, Safety, Parks/Recreation, Neighbors, Amenities, Etc.)
4 – Surrounding community (Safety, Restaurants, Shopping, Access to highways, Etc)
5 – Image (Neighborhood status, Notoriety, Sentimentality)

These can be in any order, but I believe them to be the top five reasons for choosing a neighborhood to call home. Let’s examine each of them individually.

Schools

Public vs. Private

Conroe ISD covers the Woodlands neighborhoods with approximately 47,769 children in 49 schools. Out of which, 89% are nationally ranked as ‘Exemplary’ or ‘Recognized’.  Ethnic diversity is not high in this district: 6.8% African American, 27.5% Hispanic, 67.1% White, .5% Native American and 3.4% Asian/Pacific Islander. However, this is the 21st largest district one of the fastest growing in Texas. It encompasses 348 miles and includes the communities of Shenandoah, Oak Ridge North, The Woodlands, Conroe, Cut and Shoot and Grangerland.

If you want to go the private school route, you have numerous schools to choose from for your toddlers, but not your school age children. There (5) schools to choose from for grades Pk-12, (2) pk-10, (1) pk-8 and (1) 7-12 (see sidebar for more information). They range in styles and philosophies from Montessori to Traditional. Your best bet is to choose the philosophy that best suits you and your child, make a list of those that fall into that category and take a tour. You will glean more from the tour and meeting the staff than any brochure or website can offer. Tuitions vary tremendously, so set your budget before you begin looking.

Homes

This is where The Woodlands has most other neighborhoods beat, in my opinion. After all, a master-planned community is designed to attract almost every budget. Furthermore, you can choose from new construction or a number of gently used homes, depending on your preference. I came up with (10) new home builders with prices starting as low as $140,000 for a 1,500 sq. foot villa to $730,000 for a 5br, 5.5 ba 4,216 sq. foot castle! Or, if you are going to the gently used home route, prices start around $130,000 for a 3br, 2ba, 1,400 sq. foot home to $2.4 million for a 5br, 5 ba, 7,871 sq foot mansion both located in Grogan’s Mill.

You will need to do some research and a lot of drive-bys to get a true feeling for each of the neighborhoods. Many offer gems like beautiful waterways or golf courses or open green space that could go unnoticed if you do not spend a little time doing your homework on the areas.

Neighborhoods, Surrounding Community & Image

Since this is a master-planned community, you have all the amenities and convenience that you would expect. All the communities, parks, bike paths, schools, waterways, stores and restaurants are carefully placed for a reason. Whether it is aesthetic or actual, this community just seems to flow with ease.

While this area is surrounded by trees, don’t be fooled that you feel like you are living in the country. Think of it more like a very lush neighborhood with a choice of neighborhoods that fit almost everyone’s price range.

Safety and surrounding community are not much of a concern in The Woodlands. According to the Neighborhood Scout website, their research found that compared to similar size communities across the nation, The Woodlands has one of the lowest crime rates making it one of the safest places in the country.