New Caney

The concept of what qualifies as “East Texas” can be tricky. Technically, the region begins east of Interstate 45, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a Texan who will tell you that the Dallas suburb of Mesquite is in east Texas. As Houston native Markham Pyle Shaw once said, “No matter where you go in East Texas, ‘deep’ East Texas is always about 20 miles further in than wherever you are.” Wherever you situate the region geographically, most can agree that East Texas is characterized by a rural, small-town feel, even in the more urban centers. East Texas is, in a nutshell, as much a state of mind as it is a geographic area. Situated 30 miles north of Houston is a town that fits all the criteria of a true East Texas location: New Caney. In addition to its East Texas ambiance, New Caney offers residents a variety of real estate options, narrow tree-lined streets, excellent schools, convenient highway access and amenities that embrace the town’s rural ethos. “Up until about 5 years ago, most people had never heard of New Caney,” says Montgomery County native Elizabeth Harrell, a broker with Rhoden Real Estate for nearly a decade. “Houston is growing so quickly, though, and people have been moving north recently. But New Caney still keeps its rural feel.”

Prospective buyers in New Caney have a variety of options available to them in terms of house style. Both manufactured homes and traditional single-family homes are prevalent, with a mix of older and newer homes. The median price for real estate in New Caney is $275,000, and buyers can expect to pay about $150 per square foot. A three-bedroom/two-bathroom manufactured home can sell for $72,000, a three-bedroom/two-bathroom Tudor-inspired house lists for around $300,000 and prices can go as high as $700,000 for a spacious four-bedroom/five-bathroom contemporary-style home. There are very few sidewalks in New Caney, and there are no transit stops in the area, so New Caney is entirely car-dependent.

Students in New Caney can attend Milam Elementary, Grangerland Intermediate and Caney Creek High School. Milam earns an A-minus rating on Niche.com, Grangerland earns a B-plus and Caney Creek High earns a B-minus. In addition to offering more than 30 Advanced Placement classes, Caney Creek High School allows students to enroll in the school’s dual-credit program, which allows students to earn college credit while still in high school. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of some of the state’s best private schools in Houston, including St. John’s School, which is rated the #1 best private school in Texas by Niche.com.

Sallas Park on McCleskey Road is home to the annual East Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo in the fall and offers residents year-round access to a playground, basketball court and baseball diamond. The park is also home to Sankey Rodeo School, offering instruction in all things rodeo-related to students of all skill levels. And located just 3 miles east of New Caney is Lake Houston Wilderness Park, a 5,000-acre forested area that offers visitors 20 miles of hiking trails, 13 miles of equestrian trails, an archery range, a nature center and much more. And if you still feel the need for a big-city fix, Houston is a 30-minute drive down I-69, which crosses through the center of town. “People are moving here because they’re looking for a quieter lifestyle,” says Harrell. “I like to describe it as a rural town with a lot of conveniences.”

Toward the southern edge of New Caney is Valley Ranch Town Center, a concentration of shops, restaurants and entertainment. There you’ll find Kroger Marketplace for groceries and stores including Home Goods, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Hobby Lobby and other retail establishments. When hunger strikes, Valley Ranch Town Center is home to restaurants ranging from Gringo’s Mexican Cantina to Dave’s Hot Chicken. And, of course, it wouldn’t be East Texas without a Whataburger, and there happens to be one in Valley Ranch Town Center. If the weather isn’t cooperating, catch a movie at Cinemark Valley Ranch or read a good book or two at the nearby RB Tullis Branch Library.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Ashley Boyles

Video By

Alex Finneran