Houston's Best Master-Planned Communities
See the 14 best neighborhoods in Houston with the top amenities!
With over 100 master-planned communities in Houston, homebuyers have more options than ever.
To make our top list, neighborhoods needed to have:
- Top-ranked schools
- Great neighborhood amenities
- Affordable homes with good resale trends
- Excellent accessibility (within 45 minutes of Houston)
- Builders with quality reputations
Some of the most popular new “wow” amenities include sports pavilions (basketball, soccer, tennis, Olympic-size swimming pools, full fitness centers), water parks, equestrian centers, running and hiking trails/cycling routes, dog parks, and recreational centers with planned, weekly community activities (chefs, yoga, farming & onsite instructors).
For appreciation trends, flooding information, and custom recommendations, contact Paige Martin, ranked #1 Individual Agent In Keller Williams for the entire state of Texas for the last 4 years.
Curious to know which Houston master-planned communities are best for you? On the lookout for a specific home in any of these neighborhoods? We've got you. Contact Paige Martin at PMartin@HoustonProperties.com, ranked #1 Agent with Keller Williams in Texas and #5 Worldwide.
Table of Contents
- Best Master-Planned Communities By The Numbers
- Best Master-Planned Communities South and West Of Houston
- Best Master-Planned Communities North Of Houston
- Methodology for Ranking the Best Houston Neighborhoods
Best Master-Planned Communities By The Numbers
With all the available information out there about all the suburbs in Houston, it can be confusing when finally making a decision on which suburb to choose. Get the advice of the best realtor in Houston and remove the guesswork when shopping for the best master-planned community to live in.
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Unique Amenity | School Rankings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sienna (Master Planned) | $523,000 | Club Sienna Water Park | Top Ranked (10/10 GreatSchools) |
| New Territory | $468,000 | 18,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse | Top Ranked (10/10 GreatSchools) |
| Riverstone | $741,000 | 17-acre Club at Riverstone | Top Ranked (10/10 GreatSchools) |
| Harvest Green | $539,500 | The Farmhouse | Top Ranked (8/10 GreatSchools) |
| Cinco Ranch | $553,000 | The Lake House | Top Ranked (10/10 GreatSchools) |
| Cane Island | $632,000 | Cane Island’s Treehouse | Top Ranked (7/10 GreatSchools) |
| Cross Creek Ranch | $530,000 | Adventure Island | Top Ranked (9/10 GreatSchools) |
| Aliana | $610,000 | The Club At Aliana | Top Ranked (10/10 GreatSchools) |
| Lakes of Bella Terra | $465,000 | 2 Recreation Centers | Top Ranked (8/10 GreatSchools) |
| Shadow Creek Ranch | $401,100 | Lake-Themed Neighborhood | Top Ranked (9/10 GreatSchools) |
| Towne Lake | $578,431 | Private Recreational Lake | Top Ranked (8/10 GreatSchools) |
| Bridgeland | $508,746 | Bridgeland Central | Top Ranked (10/10 GreatSchools) |
| The Woodlands: Creekside Park | $825,000 | Rob Fleming Aquatic Center | Top Ranked (10/10 GreatSchools) |
| Balmoral | $343,556 | Crystal Clear Lagoon and Beach Club | Top Ranked (7/10 GreatSchools) |
Best Master-Planned Communities South and West Of Houston
Buying or selling a home within the best neighborhoods in Houston can be very tricky. With over $500M real estate sales, the Houston Properties Team is the #1 Boutique Real Estate Team in Houston.
1. Missouri City: Sienna
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sienna (Master Planned) | $523,000 | $182 | 41% |
Amenities: Club Sienna Water Park, 4 resort pools, an Amphitheater, Camp Sienna Sports Complex, Sienna Stables, Sawmill Lake Club, an 18-hole golf course, and walking trails are all included with the annual HOA fee.
School rankings: Notable schools with high rankings from Greatschools.org: Sienna Crossing Elementary School (10/10)
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Southwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 40-50 minutes (Good commute option to Texas Medical Center)
2. Sugar Land: New Territory
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Territory | $468,000 | $168 | 48% |
Amenities: 18,000 square foot clubhouse (pool, full-size gymnasium, fitness rooms, tennis courts & cabana), sports complex (9 soccer fields, 4 baseball/softball fields, playground & pavilion), a dog park, and pocket parks.
School rankings: Notable schools with high rankings from Greatschools.org: Walker Station Elementary School (10/10) and Sartartia Middle School (9/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Southwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
3. Sugar Land: Riverstone
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverstone | $741,000 | $207 | 52% |
Amenities: The Club (a 17-acre recreational hub with an 8,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, 8 tennis courts, fitness center & resort-style pool), a lagoon, and a splash pad.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Commonwealth Elementary School (10/10), Anne Mccormick Sullivan Elementary School (9/10), First Colony Middle School (8/10), and Fort Settlement Middle School (9/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Southwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
4. Richmond: Harvest Green
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest Green | $539,500 | $202 | 37% |
Amenities: The Farmhouse recreation center, an on-site community farm, “ready-to-grow backyard gardens” in every home, over 30 acres encompassing lakes and waterways, 280 acres of greenbelts and open space, and 50 acres dedicated to parkland and a walkable trail system.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: James Bowie Middle School (8/10)
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Southwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
5. Katy: Cinco Ranch
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinco Ranch | $553,000 | $184 | 49% |
Amenities: The Lake House & Water Park, 17 tennis courts, the children’s garden, the Beach Club, and the Golf Club.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Griffin Elementary School (10/10), Edna Mae Fielder Elementary School (8/10), Rodger & Ellen Beck Junior High School (9/10), Garland Mcmeans Junior High School (9/10), and Cinco Ranch Junior High School (9/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: West
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
6. Katy: Cane Island
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cane Island | $632,000 | $201 | 52% |
Amenities: The Cane Quarter, a treehouse, a yoga studio, a 2-story fitness center, the Conservatory, a resort-style pool, and a vegetable garden.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Katy Elementary School (7/10)
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: West
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
7. Fulshear: Cross Creek Ranch
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Creek Ranch | $530,000 | $189 | 23% |
Amenities: “Adventure Island” with a Splash-n-Spray Park, 3 pool complexes, 140-foot water slide, over 28 miles of trails and 650 acres of lakes and green spaces, and a polishing pond.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: James E Randolph Elementary School (9/10), Huggins Elementary School (8/10), and Dean Leaman Junior High School (8/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: West
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 40-50 minutes
8. Richmond: Aliana
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aliana | $610,000 | $190 | 51% |
Amenities: 2 clubhouses: The Club At Aliana and The Westmoor Club, parks, trails, sports facilities, lakes, swimming pools, and splash pads.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Carolyn & Vernon Madden Elementary School (10/10), Malala Yousafzai Elementary School (9/10), and Macario Garcia Middle School (9/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Southwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
9. Richmond: Lakes of Bella Terra
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes of Bella Terra | $465,000 | $174 | 42% |
Amenities: 2 recreation centers with pools, water slides, a gym, a splash pad, a lounge area, and tennis courts. There are also dog parks, community ponds, and nature trails.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Joe Hubenak Elementary School (8/10) and Dean Leaman Junior High School (8/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Southwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
Note: There are 3 separate communities: Lakes of Bella Terra, Lakes of Bella Terra West, and Lago Verde Estates. The data above is the median of all properties, but the specific price points of each vary. Most homes here are in 2005 or newer. Contact us for details.
10. Pearland: Shadow Creek Ranch
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Creek Ranch | $401,100 | $155 | 35% |
Amenities: The entire neighborhood is “lake-themed,” with 300 acres of lakes. 3 recreation centers with pools and volleyball, basketball, and tennis facilities.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Shirley Dill Brothers Elementary School (8/10) and Glenn York Elementary School (9/10)
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: South
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 20-30 minutes
Best Master-Planned Communities North Of Houston
There is an overwhelming amount of information out there about the best master-planned neighborhoods in Houston. Get the advice of our luxury realtors – we care more.
11. Cypress: Towne Lake
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towne Lake | $578,431 | $196 | 32% |
Amenities: Slalom ski course on a 300-acre private recreational lake, over 14 miles of shoreline, community’s water park with a sandy beach, water slides, and lazy river, and The Boardwalk at Towne Lake (restaurants, shopping, etc.) with free boat tours.
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Rennell Elementary School (8/10) and Anthony Middle School (8/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Northwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
12. Cypress: Bridgeland
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeland | $508,746 | $197 | 28% |
Amenities: Bridgeland Central and Lakeland Village Center (retail and dining), a 3,000-acre network of lakes and trails, and Dragonfly Park (a 25-acre lake-centered activity park with hike and bike trails, swimming pools, lazy river, etc.).
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Wells Elementary School (8/10) and Smith Middle School (10/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Northwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
13. The Woodlands: Creekside Park Village
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Woodlands: Creekside Park | $825,000 | $237 | 68% |
Amenities: Rob Fleming Park & Aquatic Center (20 acres of recreation area with a lazy river, a network of water slides, a butterfly garden, hike and bike trails, etc.).
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Creekside Forest Elementary School (10/10), Timber Creek Elementary School (9/10), Creekview Elementary School (8/10), and Creekside Park Junior High School (9/10).
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Northwest
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 50-60 minutes
14. Humble: Balmoral
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price | Home Price / Sq Ft | 5-Yr Apprec. % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balmoral | $343,556 | $164 | 24% |
Amenities: Crystal Clear Lagoon and Beach Club (2 acres of man-made lagoon with a splash pad, a clubhouse, a pavilion, a volleyball court, a sandy beach, etc.).
School rankings: Notable schools with high ratings from Greatschools.org: Groves Elementary School (7/10)
Direction from Houston Inner Loop: Northeast
Approx. commute time to Inner Loop: 30-40 minutes
Methodology for Ranking the Best Houston Neighborhoods
The Houston Properties Team has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member. Each member is a specialist in their role – which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average.
Data covers single family home sales within communities listed above
All Houston property sale information was sourced by the HAR MLS database
Schools rating taken from GreatSchools.Org
Data is deemed accurate, but is not guaranteed. Information is provided for informational purposes only
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