lakeside livin'
Lakeside Houston neighbor is 10th fastest-growing affordable suburb in U.S., report finds
Who wouldn't want to live near a lake and a national forest?
When thinking about Houston-area suburbs, "affordable" may not be the first word that comes to mind anymore. But according to moving experts moveBuddha, Conroe earned a top 10 spot in a new report on the 20 fastest-growing affordable suburbs in the country.
Conroe's welcoming lakeside setting, coupled with its low housing prices, make it the No. 10 suburb in the study. The city's average housing prices come in at $325,469 as of September 2023, which is the fourth most affordable home price out of all 20 cities in the study.
Conroe's location – just 40 minutes north of Houston – also plays a part in its thriving popularity. The suburb's population has grown 11.1 percent since 2020 to more than 101,000 residents, the study reports.
"[Conroe is] perfect for newcomers who want to boat on its waters, hike in the hills, and put down roots that aren’t too far from the amenities of Houston," the report said.
An earlier U.S. Census report also confirmed Conroe's skyrocketing population growth.
For comparison, the north Austin suburb of Georgetown took the lead as the No. 1 fastest-growing suburb in the U.S., with moveBuddha's research showing the city has had a 26.7 percent growth rate since 2020. Georgetown's average housing price is $453,376, a significantly higher cost than a home in Conroe.
Overall, nine out of the top 20 suburbs in the report reside in Texas. Two additional Austin-area suburbs joined Georgetown in the top three: Kyle (No. 2) and Leander (No. 3). Two North Texas cities – Little Elm north of Dallas and Burleson south of Fort Worth – earned No. 4 and No. 9, respectively. New Braunfels (outside San Antonio) ranked No. 6.
The top 10 fastest growing affordable American suburbs are:
- No. 1 – Georgetown, Texas
- No. 2 – Kyle, Texas
- No. 3 – Leander, Texas
- No. 4 – Little Elm, Texas
- No. 5 – Westfield, Indiana
- No. 6 – New Braunfels, Texas
- No. 7 – Maricopa, Arizona
- No. 8 – Buckeye, Arizona
- No. 9 – Burleson, Texas
- No. 10 – Conroe, Texas
The report defined a suburb as any "non-principal" city in a metropolitan area with a population of fewer than 100,000. Over 800 suburbs were examined based on 2020 and 2022 U.S. Census Bureau's population estimates, and narrowed down into the final 20. It also defined the "affordability" category by sorting cities with average home prices below $500,000 using the Zillow Home Value Index for single family homes. The cities were ultimately ranked based on their growth rates.
The full report can be found on movebuddha.com.
