Convenience Big Store: The Woodlands among best job markets in the US, study says

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The Woodlands has the 24th best job market in the country, study says

The Woodlands got a shout-out this week after a report found it had one of the 25 best job markets in the country (it ranked 24th.)

The SmartAsset study looked at several factors, including unemployment rates, income to housing costs ratios, commuting time and the percentage of remote workers in the community.

The Woodlands saw record job growth last year, buoyed by healthcare, education and growth in energy after a dip over the last few years, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership's Gil Staley said.

Housing costs remain a debate, with The Woodlands' median home price sitting at 1.5 times the national average, according to a separate study. Still, The Woodlands' periphery continues to have affordable housing, Staley said.

Average commuting time sits at around 27 minutes, and just 24.5 percent of the local workforce is remote. Still, Staley said almost half of the area's major employers have adopted some hybrid work.

Most importantly, The Woodlands far outranked Houston, which came in at 272nd. Read more on that here.

Do you have hybrid or remote work, or do you wish you did? Where do you see that trend going? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Education

A senior's decorated graduation cap is seen before Conroe High School's graduation ceremony at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Thursday, May 25, 2023, in The Woodlands.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

College planning can be daunting. Conroe ISD plans sessions to help seniors prepare.

Conroe ISD is hosting six summer workshops starting Wednesday to Aug. 3 for rising seniors and their parents to help navigate the college planning and application process.

Growing Woodlands

A man uses a nail done alongs the side of a home as construction continues at Woodmill Creek, a community of 189 build-to-rent, multifamily homes, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in The Woodlands.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Houston area to get new 5,700-acre development valued at $9.9 billion

Houston-based Airia Development Co., has started construction on a new 5,700-acre master-planned community in Montgomery County that will eventually expand into Waller and Grimes counties.

Memorial Hermann Hospital The Woodlands is shown on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in The Woodlands.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Woodlands' medical expansion continues with 5 new and upcoming developments

From a Memorial Hermann expansion to new mental and physical health treatment centers in Creekside Park, Town Center and Sterling Ridge and west Woodlands, health care is growing in The Woodlands.

Need to Know

Sugar Land Space Cowboys Trey Cabbage (38) faced Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco (56) during the first inning of an MLB exhibition game at Minute on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Houston.

Photo by: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer

Here's five ways to celebrate Pride Month in Houston's suburbs

The annual Pride Parade in downtown Houston is among the big Pride events for the city. But Houston's suburbs have several of their own Pride events for celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

Openings and Closings

Crave Cupcakes officially closed its Woodlands location Sunday.

It'll still offer cupcakes, coffee and event services at its two Houston locations.

Shout out

Magnolia West baseball's bid for two straight state championships came to an end in a 4-0 loss to Lucas Lovejoy Thursday.

Shout out to a great season!

One last thing …

A grand opening ceremony was held in the small town Monday for the new world's largest Buc-ee's, which replaced the brand's first travel center that it opened two decades ago.

In attendance was Gov. Greg Abbott, who christened the 75,000-square-foot location off I-10 that features 120 fuel spots.

Check out reactions to the big Buc-ee's here.