Buzzy Suburb

Conroe ranks among most desirable U.S. suburbs to move to in 2025

Suburban dwellers love Conroe.

Photo courtesy of Margaritaville Lake Resort

A new list on the most desirable suburbs in America puts one buzzy Houston-area city in the top 20: According to a recent growth report by moving services website moveBuddha, Conroe comes in at No. 19 on the list of American suburbs that everyone wants to move to.

The survey ranks the suburbs that are the most in-demand in the most populous U.S. metros for 2025.

It ranks cities by two criteria: recent mover search data from January 2024 to February 2025 which reflects moves planned for the current year; and the most recent Zillow Home Value Index data for home averages in each of the 50 biggest metros.

Conroe had a "move in-to-out ratio" of 1.45, meaning there are 145 searches for moves in for every 100 searches for moving out.

This charming city's explosive growth can be attributed to its small-town feel, renter-friendliness, and much more.

The No. 1 suburb on the list was Summerville, South Carolina, 25 miles northeast of Charleston. The three other cities that topped Frisco were Meridian, Idaho just outside Boise; St. Augustine, Florida, 40 miles southeast of Jacksonville; and Vancouver, Washington, 10 miles north of Portland, Oregon.

According to the report's findings, Conroe is also among a select few desirable suburbs that can provide affordable housing without giving up its popularity. The average Conroe home was worth $318,335 in December 2024, which is nearly $39,000 lower than the national average home value.

"These suburbs prove that affordability doesn’t mean compromise, offering newcomers a chance to settle in growing communities without breaking the bank," the report's author wrote.

Conroe's affordability also makes it much more appealing than other Texas suburbs that made it on moveBuddha's list. Homes in the Dallas-area suburb of Frisco – which ranked No. 5 nationally – were worth $671,173 in December. A move to that particular North Texas city won't come cheap.

The report does caution top suburbs like Conroe that offer a "city-like culture" can sometimes inherit problems of those same cities residents are trying to escape from, such as high housing costs and congested traffic.

"Whether they’re following in the footsteps of a booming metropolis or quietly living off the charm of a slower-paced past, these top suburbs were made to fit every taste and budget," the report said.

Other desirable Texas suburbs
Besides Frisco and Conroe, only two other Texas cities ranked among the top 50 most in-demand American suburbs: The North Austin suburb of Georgetown (No. 18) and Canyon Lake (No. 42) outside San Antonio.

The top 10 most desirable suburbs to move to in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Summerville, South Carolina (Charleston)
No. 2 – Meridian, Idaho (Boise)
No. 3 – St. Augustine, Florida (Jacksonville)
No. 4 – Vancouver, Washington (Portland)
No. 5 – Frisco, Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth)
No. 6 – Tempe, Arizona (Phoenix)
No. 7 – Saint Paul, Minnesota (Minneapolis)
No. 8 – Fort Mill, South Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina)
No. 9 – Clermont, Florida (Orlando)
No. 10 – Cary, North Carolina (Raleigh)

dallas frisco suburbs reports real estate

renter livability report

New study ranks Houston as one of the worst places for renters in U.S.

Photo by Leo Yao on Unsplash

Houston flopped toward the bottom as one of the worst places for renters in the nation.

Renters looking for a place in Texas that balances affordability, convenience, and quality of life may want to look outside of Houston, which was just named the 144th "best" city to rent in America.

Houston's rental market apparently leaves much to be desired, according to WalletHub's newly released report, "Best & Worst Places to Rent in America." Experts analyzed 182 U.S. rental markets based on 21 relevant metrics, including the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments, rental affordability, the local cost of living, job availability, and more.

Surprisingly, Amarillo was deemed the No. 1 best Texas city for renters, and it ranked 10th nationally. Hot Dallas suburb Plano came in second place statewide and ranks 12th for a second year in a row, leaving Austin in third place and 13th overall (up from No. 31 last year).

The report said Houston has the 120th best quality of life out of all 182 U.S. cities in the report, and the city ranked 127th nationally in the "renter market and affordability" category. Ouch.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best cities for renters offer much more than inexpensive housing, a good job market, and recreational activities. For example, rent prices in the top cities cost tenants as little as 15 percent of their income.

"You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent," Lupo added.

Houston residents know their city better than a study ever could, so they can decide if the city's renter market isn't up to par. A separate RentCafe study found the city has become a magnet for Gen Z renters searching for good job opportunities, recreation, and good schools. And now that local rent prices are declining, things might be starting to look up for Houston renters.

Though renting can be more cost effective than owning a property, WalletHub said it's not always a better choice.

"The right road to take depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s or family’s financial means and how well the local real-estate market is doing," the report said. "Like home prices, rental rates can vary significantly by region, state or city."

Other Texas cities that ranked among the top 100 best places to rent in America include:

No. 24 – El Paso
No. 34 – Grand Prairie
No. 37 – Laredo
No. 48 – Brownsville
No. 49 – Arlington
No. 50 – Fort Worth
No. 63 – Corpus Christi
No. 64 – San Antonio
No. 66 – Irving
No. 79 – Garland
No. 81 – Lubbock

wallethub reports rent report renting real estate