The Woodlands Neighborhood Guide
A planned community in the forest, with a waterway, a busy town center and Conroe ISD schools
The Woodlands home sales, last 12 months: about 1,330 homes sold, at a typical price around $588,000 (October 2025 through September 2026). Source: HAR MLS closed sales. Data as of October 2026.
Property taxes: A $588,000 home here pays about $10,800 a year at current rates, or about $8,880 with the homestead exemption. The example includes one typical MUD; MUD rates vary by neighborhood, so check the MUD notice for any home. See MUD and PID taxes. Data as of October 2026.
921 reviews and ratings across five sites as of October 30, 2026: Google 216 (5.0), Zillow 153 (5.0), Yelp 147 (4.9), RateMyAgent 56 (5.0), HAR 349 surveys (4.99).
Explore more: townhomes · homes under $500,000 · new construction · The Woodlands vs Spring · The Woodlands Hills
Trails & parksTown Center livingConroe ISDCorporate campusesMaster-planned villages
Updated November 5, 2026
Living in The Woodlands
The Woodlands was founded in 1974 by oilman George P. Mitchell and designed around preserved forest. It's mostly in Montgomery County, with its southern village of Creekside Park in Harris County, and it's governed by The Woodlands Township rather than a city government.
Villages such as Sterling Ridge, Alden Bridge, Creekside Park and Grogan's Mill connect to more than 200 miles of hike-and-bike trails, while The Woodlands Waterway, Market Street, Hughes Landing and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion give it a lively town center.
Why buyers choose The Woodlands
- Schools. Most of The Woodlands is in Conroe ISD, Creekside Park is in Tomball ISD, and some areas are in Magnolia ISD.
- Trails and parks. More than 200 miles of trails and well over 100 parks across the villages.
- Town Center. The Woodlands Waterway, Market Street, Hughes Landing and concerts at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
- Employers. Corporate offices in The Woodlands and the ExxonMobil campus just south in Spring.
- Planned living. Homes tucked into preserved forest, with standards maintained by community associations.
What's in and near The Woodlands
- The Woodlands Waterway and Market Street
- The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
- Hughes Landing and Lake Woodlands
- Conroe ISD and Tomball ISD campuses
- I-45, the Hardy Toll Road and the Grand Parkway
Where to eat and shop in The Woodlands
The Woodlands has added some of its most talked-about restaurants in years. Along the Waterway, Bar Bludorn opened in October 2026 as chef Aaron Bludorn's first restaurant outside central Houston, serving oysters, steak frites and craft cocktails, and next door Bari Ristorante serves contemporary Italian food with house-made pasta. At Hughes Landing, Charolais from chef Austin Simmons builds its menu around steak boards from his own Texas beef company. For longtime local favorites, there's Amerigo's Grille, serving Italian-leaning dishes on Grogan's Park Drive since 1994, and Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen on Market Street, family-run since 2010, for Cajun and Creole cooking and an 800-label wine list.
Independent shops are easy to find outside the big shopping centers. Village Books is a locally owned bookstore on Woodlands Parkway that hosts author readings and children's story hours. Tumbleweeds & Notions on Research Forest Drive is a family-run gift shop with home decor, paper goods and vintage finds, and Jen LOVES Paper designs custom invitations and party supplies.
Getting around
| Destination | Distance | Drive time (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Bush Intercontinental Airport | 26.5 mi | about 35 min; 53–70 min at rush hour |
| Downtown Houston | 32.7 mi | about 38 min; 57–76 min at rush hour |
| The Galleria | 37.9 mi | about 46 min; 69–92 min at rush hour |
| Texas Medical Center | 38.1 mi | about 46 min; 69–92 min at rush hour |
| Hobby Airport | 44.4 mi | about 56 min; 84–112 min at rush hour |
| Energy Corridor (I-10 at Eldridge) | 40.2 mi | about 54 min; 81–108 min at rush hour |
Drive times are estimates. Off-peak minutes come from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) without traffic, checked November 2026; rush-hour ranges assume 1.5 to 2 times as long, which is common on Houston freeways. Actual times vary with traffic, weather and time of day.
Driving distances from central The Woodlands.
Homes in The Woodlands
Single-family homes across the villages, from 1970s and 1980s homes in the older villages to newer homes in Creekside Park and Sterling Ridge, plus townhomes and high-rise condos near the Waterway. Homes pay a Township tax and, in many villages, MUD taxes, so compare total tax rates.
Median household income by ZIP code: 77380, $88,562; 77381, $143,565; 77382, $162,384; 77384, $91,667 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates). ZIP code figures can include areas beyond the neighborhood.
The Woodlands home prices: the last 24 months
1,686 sales from November 2025 through October 2026, down 4% from 1,749 the year before; the 12-month median sale price was $600,500, up 2% from $590,000. Single-family homes, townhomes and condos sold through HAR MLS in HAR’s The Woodlands market area.
Median sale price by month
Homes sold by month
A monthly median moves with the mix of homes that closed that month, so read the overall direction rather than any one month. Hover or tap a point for the figures. Source: HAR MLS (Houston Association of Realtors), pulled by Compean Group November 9, 2026; data not verified or guaranteed by the MLS.
Show the numbers as a table
| Month | Median sale price | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2024 | $621,500 | 112 |
| Dec 2024 | $595,000 | 124 |
| Jan 2025 | $551,250 | 90 |
| Feb 2025 | $495,000 | 117 |
| Mar 2025 | $535,000 | 142 |
| Apr 2025 | $580,000 | 153 |
| May 2025 | $617,500 | 212 |
| Jun 2025 | $646,000 | 195 |
| Jul 2025 | $644,500 | 164 |
| Aug 2025 | $611,500 | 181 |
| Sep 2025 | $540,000 | 129 |
| Oct 2025 | $565,000 | 130 |
| Nov 2025 | $532,500 | 128 |
| Dec 2025 | $546,000 | 117 |
| Jan 2026 | $603,750 | 100 |
| Feb 2026 | $615,000 | 93 |
| Mar 2026 | $632,500 | 122 |
| Apr 2026 | $618,750 | 176 |
| May 2026 | $650,000 | 196 |
| Jun 2026 | $625,000 | 195 |
| Jul 2026 | $599,500 | 192 |
| Aug 2026 | $535,000 | 145 |
| Sep 2026 | $579,000 | 123 |
| Oct 2026 | $602,000 | 99 |
Public schools serving The Woodlands
School districts: Conroe ISD (most of the Township); Tomball ISD (Village of Creekside Park); Magnolia ISD (small part (location not confirmed)). These are the main zoned schools, hand-checked; zoning can change from one street to the next.
| Middle | McCullough Junior High — Conroe ISD. Feeds The Woodlands High School. Knox Junior High — Conroe ISD. Feeds The Woodlands College Park High School. Creekside Park Junior High — Tomball ISD. Serves Creekside Park; added 5th grade from 2026-27. |
|---|---|
| High | The Woodlands High School — Conroe ISD. Serves much of the Township; has a separate 9th Grade Campus. The Woodlands College Park High School — Conroe ISD. Serves much of the Township. Tomball High School — Tomball ISD. Serves Creekside Park (medium confidence: 2016 report; still the Creekside feeder per later sources). Oak Ridge High School — Conroe ISD. Serves parts of ZIP 77385 east of I-45, mostly outside the Township. |
Most Township villages split between The Woodlands HS and College Park HS; Creekside Park is Tomball ISD. Conroe ISD has 13 elementaries in these two feeder zones, so check the lookup by address. Confirm any address with Conroe ISD Find My School (address lookup + feeder zone maps), Tomball ISD Attendance Zone Map, Magnolia ISD School Site Locator. School ratings and how to read them are on our Houston school information page. Checked November 2026.
Flood risk in The Woodlands at a glance
- Hurricane Harvey (August 2017): flood insurance claims recorded by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, by ZIP code: ZIP 77380: 331; ZIP 77381: 70; ZIP 77382: 11. ZIP codes include areas beyond the neighborhood, and many flooded homes had no flood insurance.
- Check a specific address: FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Floodplains follow bayous, creeks and low ground, so one street can differ from the next; ask for the seller's disclosure and an elevation certificate, and get a flood insurance quote during your option period.
The Woodlands questions buyers ask
Is The Woodlands a city?
No. The Woodlands is an unincorporated master-planned community governed by The Woodlands Township, which handles services like parks, fire protection and covenant enforcement. It isn't part of Houston.
Is The Woodlands in Harris County?
Mostly no. The Woodlands is mainly in Montgomery County; its Creekside Park village is in Harris County.
Is The Woodlands a good place to live?
For many buyers, yes: trails, parks, schools, shopping and year-round community events. Trade-offs include higher prices than many suburbs, a roughly 33-mile drive to Downtown and Township plus MUD taxes.
Is The Woodlands safe?
The Woodlands is patrolled by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, with Harris County coverage in Creekside Park. Review recent crime data from the agency that covers the address, and visit at different times of day.
How much do homes cost in The Woodlands?
In the 12 months through September 2026, about 1,330 homes sold in The Woodlands on the MLS at a typical (median) price around $588,000 and an average near $794,000, with the top sale near $6.6 million.
What school district serves The Woodlands?
Most of The Woodlands is in Conroe ISD, Creekside Park is in Tomball ISD, and some areas are in Magnolia ISD. Confirm zoning for any address.
Does The Woodlands flood?
Some neighborhoods near Spring Creek and Panther Branch flooded in heavy storms such as the 2016 Tax Day flood and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Check the FEMA flood zone and flood history, read the seller's disclosure and get a flood insurance quote during your option period.
Is The Woodlands the same as Spring?
No. Spring is a separate unincorporated area to the south and east. Some Woodlands neighborhoods, including parts of Creekside Park, use Spring or Tomball ZIP codes, which causes confusion.
How far is The Woodlands from Houston and Bush Intercontinental?
About 33 miles to Downtown Houston and 26.5 miles to Bush Intercontinental by car, via I-45 or the Hardy Toll Road.
What is there to do in The Woodlands?
Walk The Woodlands Waterway, shop Market Street and The Woodlands Mall, catch a concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, paddle Lake Woodlands or ride the trails.
What are the villages of The Woodlands?
The Woodlands has nine residential villages: Grogan's Mill, Panther Creek, Cochran's Crossing, Indian Springs, Alden Bridge, Sterling Ridge, College Park, Harper's Landing and Creekside Park. They surround Town Center, home to Market Street, Hughes Landing, The Woodlands Mall and the Waterway. Creekside Park is the only village in Harris County; the rest are in Montgomery County.
Does The Woodlands have an HOA?
There is no single traditional HOA. The Woodlands Township enforces covenants and deed restrictions, and exterior changes such as additions, fences, pools and paint colors need approval from its design review committees. Some neighborhoods, especially gated sections, also have their own associations with separate dues.
What are property taxes like in The Woodlands?
Homeowners pay The Woodlands Township, their school district (mostly Conroe ISD, with Tomball and Magnolia ISD in some areas), Montgomery or Harris County, and usually a MUD. Combined rates often land around 1.9% to 2.4% of assessed value before exemptions, depending on the village. The Township's own rate is a small part of that total.
Is The Woodlands walkable or bike-friendly?
The Woodlands has more than 200 miles of hike-and-bike pathways connecting neighborhoods, schools, parks and village centers. In Town Center, the free Town Center Trolley links Hughes Landing, Market Street, The Woodlands Mall and the Pavilion. Most residents still drive for errands and commuting.
Will The Woodlands become a city?
Not for now. In November 2021, voters rejected a proposal to incorporate as a city, so The Woodlands remains a special-purpose township. The Township handles parks, covenants, trolleys and some public safety, while Montgomery and Harris counties provide other services.
Who are the major employers in and near The Woodlands?
Major employers include Chevron Phillips Chemical and Huntsman, which have headquarters in The Woodlands, along with several large hospitals. ExxonMobil's campus at Springwoods Village is a short drive south off I-45 and the Grand Parkway.
What hospitals are in The Woodlands?
The Woodlands has several full-service hospitals, including Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, Houston Methodist The Woodlands, St. Luke's Health–The Woodlands and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands. Many specialists who also practice at the Texas Medical Center have offices locally.
Where are the best places to eat in The Woodlands?
Popular choices include Bar Bludorn (upscale tavern on the Waterway), Bari Ristorante (contemporary Italian), Charolais (steak boards at Hughes Landing), Amerigo's Grille (Italian-leaning, open since 1994) and Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen (Cajun and Creole).
Where can I shop local in The Woodlands?
Locally owned favorites include Village Books (independent bookstore), Tumbleweeds & Notions (gifts, decor and vintage finds) and Jen LOVES Paper (custom stationery and party supplies).
Is The Woodlands Hills part of The Woodlands?
No. The Woodlands Hills is a separate Howard Hughes master-planned community about 13 miles north of The Woodlands, in the Conroe and Willis area, and it is not one of The Woodlands Township's nine villages. It is zoned to Willis ISD and has its own HOA, MUD and city or county tax structure, so its taxes, services and covenants differ from homes inside the Township. Several other nearby subdivisions also use "Woodlands" in their names, so buyers should confirm whether an address is inside the Township before comparing taxes and fees.
Who is a good realtor in The Woodlands?
Compean Group is one to consider: AgentPronto ranks it #3 on its list of top agents for Houston (November 2026; AgentPronto compares agents on transaction data, specialties and client reviews). We very commonly work in The Woodlands and understand its local market, from how homes are priced to what buyers look for. Evan Compean and the Compean Group have sold more than 1,000 homes and earned hundreds of 5-star reviews. This guide includes much more information to help you get started with your search.
Sales figures are MLS closed sales for the 12 months from October 2025 through September 2026. Driving distances are approximate. The Average Sales Price and Total Listings box further down this page is calculated automatically from homes currently listed for sale in the area and updates daily, so it can differ from these closed-sale figures.
Related Guides and Local News
- AI vs. an experienced agent: why you still need a human in a Houston home sale
- Houston home prices by neighborhood: 12 months of sales
- Houston property taxes and MUD taxes in 2026
- Houston flood zones and flood insurance: the maps to check
- Texas homestead exemption: how much you save and how to file
- Mortgage rates, seller credits and buydowns
- No state income tax: what moving to Houston saves
Local news
- The Woodlands to roll out 6 new Town Center trolleys (Community Impact, Oct 2026)
- Township board approves public short-course golf complex with $12M+ in private investment (The Woodlands Township, July 2026)
- Chef Aaron Bludorn opens Bar Bludorn at The Woodlands Waterway (Community Impact, Oct 2026)
- Bari Ristorante brings house-made Italian to The Woodlands (Community Impact, Oct 2026)
- 50th-anniversary monument, Waterway fountain and more: updates on 4 projects in The Woodlands (Community Impact, Dec 2025)
Free guide
The Woodlands Neighborhood Guide (PDF)
A short buyer's guide with the average price and price range, months of inventory, distances to major attractions, dining, nightlife, and what sets The Woodlands apart from other Houston suburbs.
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