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Friendswood

Texas · Houston — Southeast
No Income TaxStrong DanceWarmMid Cost
75
/ 100 match score

Friendswood is a small, extremely safe community between Houston and Galveston. Friendswood ISD is highly rated and more intimate than the large district ISDs. Lower cost than Sugar Land with comparable safety. NASA/JSC community nearby adds unique character.

Match Score Breakdown
Cost of Living
13/20
Family Safety
16/20
State Tax Burden
10/10
Healthcare Quality
13/20
Dance Training
9/12
Musical Theater
6/8
Career / Remote
8/10
Financial Snapshot at $360K Income
State income tax
$0
Texas advantage
Est. after-tax income
$267,175
incl. FICA + federal
Annual living costs
$108,000
$90,000–$126,000 range
Annual surplus
+$159,175
King: 2.5×
FICA (7.65%)
$27,540/yr
Rent: 3BR family home
$2,000–$2,800/mo
Median SFH purchase
$430,000
Dance Training
Solid local studios in Friendswood. Houston Ballet Academy feeder programs accessible 35–40 minutes north. The Clear Lake and JSC area dance community is underrated.
Healthcare
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and UTMB Health nearby. NASA/JSC proximity means excellent medical infrastructure in the surrounding area.
Career & Remote Work
NASA Johnson Space Center 15 minutes. Bay Area Houston tech corridor. AT&T Fiber widely available. Strong for remote workers with occasional Houston Medical Center visits.
Musical Theater
Strong
Clear Creek ISD has solid performing arts programs with competitive theater. Bay Area Houston has an active community of arts families given the NASA/JSC culture — educated, engaged families who invest heavily in performing arts. Multiple studios in the Clear Lake-Friendswood area. Active Houston competition circuit. Good overall training environment for a serious MT student.
Safety
Violent crime rate:120 per 100KVery Safe

US national average: ~370/100K. For cities with elevated rates, target specific suburban ISD neighborhoods — actual neighborhood crime is 40–60% below city average.

Internet Quality
Excellent1,000+ Mbps
AT&T Fiber available throughout Friendswood. Comcast also serves the area. JSC proximity means reliable infrastructure.
Pros
  • +Very safe — small-town feel in Houston metro
  • +Friendswood ISD — intimate and excellent
  • +Lower cost than Sugar Land
  • +Clear Lake / NASA aerospace community nearby
  • +Galveston beach 25 minutes
Cons
  • −Small town — limited local amenities
  • −Houston commute is longer than Sugar Land
  • −Dance infrastructure requires driving north toward Houston
Quick Stats
School rating
9/10
Healthcare rating
8/10
Tech job market
good
Remote friendly
Yes

Financial estimates: $360K gross income, FICA 7.65% + federal MFJ 2026 brackets ($30K standard deduction). Texas has no state income tax. Does not include property tax (TX rates 1.5–2.5% of assessed value, varies by county) or HOA. Actual liability varies — consult a CPA.