Just north of Houston, a sleepy commuter town has gradually been growing, with stunning neighborhoods proliferating amid ancient green forest land.
Comprising a sprawling network of pretty villages, The Woodlands expanded by almost nine percent between 2020 and 2025 to a population of 124,500 people.
The average household income in the census-designated area is $200,188 – almost 2.5 times the national average of $82,651 – and the picturesque region is peppered with stunning, Mediterranean-style mansions and charming red-brick homes.
Yet The Woodlands boom has been quiet, because the manicured properties that have started springing up are largely hidden within the towering pine forests.
Local realtors told the Daily Mail this is by design, as architects and town planners have strived to retain area’s ‘resort-like feel’ despite the district being just a short drive away from America’s fourth-largest city.
Real estate heavyweights Carol Wolfe, Laura Powers and Maelia Davies said the diverse neighborhoods, outstanding schools, and quality of life are major magnets for millionaires who want to live within a 30-minute commute of Houston.
Wolfe, a veteran Houston-area agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, told the Daily Mail most of the homes she sells in the district cost between $500,000 and $2 million.
In the gated community of Carlton Woods, which is home to the Jack Nicklaus golf course, the houses are even more luxurious, with an average price-tag of $3 million.
Just north of Houston, a sleepy commuter town has gradually been growing, with quaint neighborhoods proliferating amid ancient green forest land. (Pictured: A $12 million home currently on sale in The Woodlands, southern Texas)
Comprising a sprawling network of pretty villages, The Woodlands (pictured from above) expanded by almost nine percent between 2020 and 2025 to a population of 124,500 people
Local realtors told the Daily Mail that architects and town planners have retained the ‘resort-like feel’ of The Woodlands, despite the district being just a short drive away from Houston
‘It’s a fantastic place to live,’ said Wolfe, who resides in the Creekside neighborhood of the district.
‘The Woodlands is very unique in that it’s not far from the major city of Houston, and even though there are more than 100,000 residents, it’s a quaint type of environment.’
Coldwell Banker Realtor agent Carol Wolfe
Maelia Davis, a broker with the boutique Austin Agency, said she has seen a 40 percent increase in sales on homes costing more than $1 million over the past year.
‘We have strong annual appreciation in The Woodlands of four to six percent due to the constant demand and secondary migration into the Houston area,’ she told the Daily Mail. ‘The median home sells in less than 30 days.’
Davis added that entering The Woodlands ‘feels like you drove into a resort’.
‘I have lived in California, New York, Florida and Texas, and I believe it is the most unique master planned community in the country,’ she told the Daily Mail.
‘Once you drive through the gates, you understand why people move there.
‘The sky-high pine trees are the defining feature. They were all preserved and homes were built around them to make sure it felt like a lush forest, with no neon signs’.
This $12 million property currently on the market comes with plenty of land surrounding it
The average household income in census-designated area is $200,188 – almost 2.5 times the national average of $82.651 – and the picturesque region is peppered with stunning, Mediterranean-style mansions. (Pictured: The interior of a $12 million mansion in the area)
Wolfe said The Woodlands was built by oil investor George Mitchell in the 1970s, and what started as a commuter town rapidly became a nucleus for big businesses.
International firms including Occidental Petroleum Corp, ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Huntsman Corp, and Woodforest National Bank have constructed corporate campuses within The Woodlands in recent years.
Healthcare, finance, law and tech industries hare also booming in The Woodlands, and some residents also commute to Houston’s downtown business district.
Despite the presence of several large corporations, the area has managed to ‘preserve the forest feel that George Mitchell wanted,’ Wolfe said.
‘All you really see is trees and forest and you have to turn off the main arteries to get into the neighborhoods,’ she added.
‘You don’t really see a lot of the commercial buildings.’
Laura Powers, an agent with 30 years’ experience working in The Woodlands, said lots of buyers like to work with developers to create bespoke homes.
‘The Woodlands is essentially fully developed and in our original villages we are seeing regeneration with either tear downs or whole home renovations,’ she said.
Wolfe, a veteran Houston-area agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, told the Daily Mail most of the homes she sells in the district cost between $500,000 and $2 million. (Pictured: The interior of a $12 million mansion Wolfe currently has listed for sale in the area)
‘It’s a fantastic place to live,’ said Wolfe, who lives in the Creekside neighborhood. (Pictured: The interior of a $12 million mansion Wolfe currently has listed for sale in the area)
Powers works with her husband Matt to procure the land and homes, before Matt takes customers through the design and construction process.
Veteran real estate agent Laura Powers said many buyers in the area like to work with developers to create bespoke homes
‘Our luxury clients range from oil executives to healthcare and technology professionals,’ she told the Daily Mail.
‘We personally chose The Woodlands for the excellent schools, both private and public school options, over 50 churches, over 150 playgrounds and a multitude festivals.
‘This includes the world-renowned The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, which was awarded the best arts festival in Texas in 2024, and The Ironman which is a wonderful community volunteer opportunity.’
Wolfe said the area is populated mostly by families who want to enjoy the natural world. ‘We have 200 parks here and over 200 miles of trails,’ she said.
‘We also have a great music venue here – The Pavilion – which attracts people from Houston for events’.
Davis said the area also attracts expats from Colombia, Venezuela, India and the UK, and it has been dubbed the home of ‘Mexican Millionaires’ after attracting a hefty Hispanic population.
‘Latinos make up 20 percent of the population in The Woodlands and according to statistics,’ Davis told the Daily Mail.
The picturesque region is peppered with stunning, Mediterranean-style mansions and charming red-brick family homes. (Pictured: A $439,000 property for sale in the area)
Pictured: Buildings reflected along Lake Woodlands just north of Houston, Texas
‘Half of this number are from Mexico – mainly Monterrey and Mexico City – and some of the millionaires buy a property in The Woodlands as a second home or as an investment – a place to come visit with convenient flights out of the Houston airport located about 30 minutes away.
‘Within the gates, those the choose to purchase a home can find the safety and security that are missing in some of their home countries.’
Despite Houston being home to more than 2.3 million people, city residents still flock to The Woodlands as a ‘go to’ shopping and dining destination on Market Street and The Woodlands Mall, according to Davis.
‘For many, it provides a much better alternative to The Galleria in Houston,’ she said.
‘Interesting side note, it also has some of the most sought-after wedding dress shops in the city.’
Powers said she has seen ‘George Mitchell’s brilliant vision unfold’ into a reality over the past 30 years.
‘The Woodlands of today has been exciting to live and experience,’ she said.
The longtime resident added that the latest luxury highlight is the development of the Aria Isle in East Shore, which comprises 25 lake-front lots which have already sold out despite still being in the construction process.
‘All you really see is trees and forest and you have to turn off the main arteries to get into the neighborhoods,’ Wolfe said of The Woodlands
Pictured: Artist Alex Katz’s 3,580 square-foot mural in The Woodlands Waterway Square
The Woodlands boom has been quiet, because the manicured houses which have started springing up beside swathes of parkland are largely hidden within the towering pine trees
Her husband Matt built and customized several of the homes.
And The Woodlands is set to keep growing. Powers said several lakeside mansions, called the ‘Ritz-Carlton Residences’ are set to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
‘Located on more than eight and a half beautifully manicured acres, the architectural style, inspired by iconic Texas estates, is elevated by timeless exteriors and elegant terraces,’ Powers told The Daily Mail.
‘A limited collection of 111 homes, these private residences showcase luxurious interiors and stunning lakefront views.’