Suburb news
The Woodlands ranks among America’s top 50 most sought-after suburbs
What started as a master-planned community has now expanded into a thriving Houston suburb.
The Woodlands has ranked as the 48th most highly sought-after U.S. suburb of 2025, according to a new national survey by moving services provider MoveBuddha.
MoveBuddha's experts analyzed Zillow Home Value Index data and mover search data from August 1, 2024, to September 11, 2025, for 100 of the largest U.S. metro areas. The study then determined the most desirable suburb for each metro by analyzing which had the highest inbound-to-outbound move ratio. Cities that qualified as "suburbs" were those located about 31 miles from their main metros.
In addition to being recognized as the 48th most desirable American suburb, The Woodlands also ranked as the No. 4 suburb to move to in Texas.
In 2021, The Woodlands ranked as the No. 1 best place to live in the U.S., and its popularity has steadily grown over the years. This Houston-area neighbor isn't just being scouted by suburbanites that want to live in a smaller city with more space; several new restaurants and bars have opened in this buzzy suburb this year. And there are plenty of other businesses and attractions adding to The Woodlands' charm.
The average home in The Woodlands is valued at $640,000, leaning toward the more expensive side of the national comparison of the most desirable suburbs with the cheapest home values.
Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio suburb Boerne ranked as the No. 4 most sought-after U.S. suburb and topped the Texas-wide list, while Dallas neighbor Wylie ranked 7th nationally and came in second place statewide.
Georgetown was deemed the most desirable Austin suburb and ranked 27th nationally. Edinburg, a South Texas city outside McAllen, ranked as the No. 42 most desirable suburb in America.
"In the end, America’s most popular suburbs are proving that big moves don’t always mean big cities," the report said. "Sometimes they mean big charm, with moderate prices, with some proximity to mid-sized metros. And if trends continue, the popularity of these spots — and their housing prices — will only continue to climb in 2026."
The top 10 most sought-after suburbs in America are:
- No. 1 – Wake Forest, North Carolina
- No. 2 – Eagle, Idaho
- No. 3 – Maryville, Tennessee
- No. 4 – Boerne, Texas
- No. 5 – Greer, South Carolina
- No. 6 – Camas, Washington
- No. 7 – Wylie, Texas
- No. 8 – Summerville, South Carolina
- No. 9 – Alex, North Carolina
- No. 10 – Florence, Kentucky
