5 Small Towns in Texas to Put Down Roots In

While some Texans love the big city life, full of high-rises and sky-scrapers, many like to leave their job downtown and commute home to a peaceful neighborhood, if not move away from the big metropolises altogether. In Texas, if you ask someone about small towns you are likely to get an earful of stories about what amounts to a highway intersection with a gas station and a fast food restaurant or two. That's common considering the fact that Texas is the second largest state and there is still so much undeveloped land between major metropolitan areas. But with a state that's name means "friendship," a small town feel is easily accessible near all the big cities so both suburbs and isolated small towns are taken into account as we walk you through the five best Texas small towns to settle down.

1. The Woodlands

What started as a large patch of wooded area has grown exponentially, without losing the small-town feel. From 1980 to 2014, 8,434 people has become 109,679 strong and the core values that the Township adheres to which include a deep commitment to economic growth are the reasons why. What hasn't changed is that The Woodland is that it is still a large patch of wooded area. One core value of The Woodlands is a commitment to development with as small of an impact to natural plant growth and wildlife as possible. The Township notes that it has found the natural drainage to be much more efficient than man-made systems and that the large number of trees save as much as 50% in energy costs according to their estimates. If there is any drawback to this approach it is that the trees cover many landmarks you would usually learn in other towns as a means of getting around so a navigation system is extremely handy here. Another huge draw is The Woodlands set of regulations. If you are looking for a patch of land to raise farm animals, this is not the place for you as regulations on buildings and residences must meet an extremely high standard. But if you are looking for a place to hang your hat that will not fall to decay, these regulations are part of the township's commitment to upholding property values and preventing the neighborhoods from falling into a state of disrepair. The Woodlands has everything and if it is a national chain it probably has four of them. The Woodlands Mall has become the go-to mall for many Houstonians and the township has more festivals, annual events, fine dining and shopping than can possibly be mentioned here. If you are bored in The Woodlands you are just not trying as there is some event going on almost 365 days a year. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion draws the world's biggest acts as nearly every major artist has played here at one time or another. While NRG Stadium in Houston gets many big acts, the 17,000-plus seat pavilion provides a highly intimate experience with one of concert goers favorite features being the lawn where a general admission ticket allows you to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy some of your favorite bands. The Woodlands is a great place to raise a family with nationally recognized schools and a community college campus with ties to four-year degree programs through many of the state's major universities.

2. Allen

Just 30 minutes from Dallas is Allen - a city on the rise. Safety and high quality education are a huge draw to Allen and home ownership rates prove it. With a median rate of 59.9% in large cities, Allen boasts a whopping 78% home ownership rate..Arts and culture play a huge role in community life whether you want to join the quilters guild or catch some ballet at the Collin County Community Theater. Allen boasts almost all nationally recognized schools and for higher education there is the National American University-Allen and Collin College.

3. Frisco

Just north of Dallas, Frisco houses the new Dallas Cowboys headquarters and even shares some facilities with local high school athletes for those that like a great sports town. Homeownership rates are just below Allen at 75.5%, which is no surprise for a community whose schools rank in the 92nd percentile. In addition to over 800 acres of parks and recreation areas and miles of biking and hiking trails, Frisco residents enjoy cricket and football leagues. Residents describe the area as extremely safe and a place that welcomes newcomers with a slew of social events for those who want to make new friends.

4. Sugar Land

Sugar Land is such a great place to lay down roots it has actually become known for the number of professional athletes that settle there. From local legends such as Hakeem Olajuwan, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell to former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, this community is thriving with successful residents who insist on a safe community with top-notch schools and low crime rates. Sugar Land has the nation's 7th largest school district and excels with specialty programs such as an excellent digital media academy that goes above and beyond to prepare students for the work they will actually be doing after college. This southwest suburb of Houston has great places to walk, with sidewalks connecting schools, parks and the city center.

5. McKinney

As one of the nation's fastest growing cities over the last ten years, McKinney has received rave reviews for livability from just about everywhere. The town motto is “unique by nature,” describing a historic downtown district, quaint, cozy neighborhoods, and a slew of hills and streams for nature lovers. McKinney boasts a 3% unemployment rate and has a reputation for being one of the safest cities in Texas. A Nationally recognized school system, numerous annual festivals and an affordable housing market are bringing in new homeowners in droves.