Moss Point, 2007
Friendswood’s story
131 years in pictures
Census counts: 5,675 in 1970, 41,213 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 7 maps from 1916 on.
- 1895Friendswood is established
Population
41,319
2025 Census estimate · +0.6% since 2020
Typical home
$457K
+0.7% in a year
Household income
$127K
median
Median age
41.3
years
Jobs based here
9,440
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#30 of 640 in TX
Is Friendswood a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Friendswood grades A− overall, 30th of 640 graded towns in Texas. The median household earns $127K. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 91% of the country and its schools rank ahead of 83% of Texas towns. The trade-off is money: homes are expensive, about $457K for a typical one and 5.6 times the Houston metro’s $82K median household income. 53% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Friendswood, above both the Texas town median (23%) and the median of U.S. towns (29%). Only 70 of Texas’ 1,000 towns score lower on hazard risk. The biggest park or preserve is Centennial Park, at 58 acres.
What makes Friendswood stand out
Where Friendswood beats most towns.
FRIENDSWOOD ISD schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| C W Cline El | PK–5 | 906 |
| Zue S Bales Int | 3–5 | 640 |
| Wedgewood El | PK–5 | 637 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Friendswood0.8
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
SafetyA−
77% less violent crime than TX
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
A growing town
Friendswood has grown 16% since 2010
35,805 counted in 2010 and 41,213 in 2020; an estimated 41,319 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 15.1% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Friendswood grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Friendswood is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →HealthHCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake 4.5 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 78% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listDOpen →SchoolsA−Open →SafetyA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.6 of 20; 5.8% of households have no car; 1.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4 miles of trails; 3% conserved landB−Open →HistoryEstablished 1895; 8 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life3.8 library visits per resident; 5.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 93° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market25 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.3–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 59 attractions →Reliant Stadium and 55 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Friendswood. Close and well known come first.
Big draw18 mi Stadium & arenaReliant Stadium
Big draw20 mi Stadium & arenaDaikin Park
19 mi Stadium & arenaToyota Center
20 mi MuseumRothko Chapel
7 mi MuseumSpace Center Houston
18 mi LandmarkSan Jacinto MonumentSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Reliant Stadium: User eschipul on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Daikin Park: Delaywaves, CC BY 3.0 · Toyota Center: Ed Uthman from Houston, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Rothko Chapel: Unknown, Public domain · Space Center Houston: Shujianyang, CC BY 4.0 · San Jacinto Monument: Tijuana Brass at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Friendswood: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Friendswood, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Texas13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Friendswood water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
SchoolsFriendswood Independent School DistrictClear Creek Independent School District2 districts serve Friendswood; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereGalveston County Early Voting ClerkGalveston County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code7754677546 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Friendswood.
Friendswood reports less crime than League City or any other graded neighbor and has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Texas (mostly inland flooding).
HealthA
For health, Friendswood earns an A
Its widest gap with Texas is food insecurity: 9.3% of its 30,611 adults worry about having enough food, against 19.3% statewide.
11% of adults report frequent physical distress in Friendswood. Friendswood beats the Texas average on 21 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 19% of adults get no exercise outside work in Friendswood.
91%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Friendswood | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 30% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 24% | 19% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 17% |
31 measures vs. Texas
21 better9 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Friendswood | TX |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.3% | 19.3% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 9.8% | 19.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.5% | 6.1% |
HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake
4.5 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
92nd
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsA−
For schools, Friendswood earns an A−
Its A− for schools comes with a D for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $457K.
Its public schools are run by Friendswood ISD. Three of its 11 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
83%of TX districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendswood J HLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,530 | A |
| Friendswood H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,014 | A+ |
| Windsong ElTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 607 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade D
For cost of living, Friendswood earns a D
Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Pearland is next at $378K.
The median rent in Friendswood is $1,688 a month. The typical Friendswood home is worth about $457,000, up 0.7% in a year, 54% above the Texas typical home. 77% of Friendswood households own their home.
$457KZillow home value
| Friendswood | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,688 a month | $1,206 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Friendswood$457K
Texas$296K
Market temperature
25
days on market
97.9%
sale-to-list price
+0.7%
value change, 1 year
68
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyA−
Friendswood is safer than 78% of U.S. towns, by crime per resident
Its A− tops all 5 graded towns on its borders; League City (B) comes closest. At 8.9 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 91% of Texas’s graded towns.
Friendswood’s property crime rate is 5.1 per 1,000 residents.
78%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Friendswood | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.1 per 1,000 residents | 10.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Friendswood0.8
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Friendswood5.1
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
78th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
91st
percentile among TX towns
34
violent crimes reported in 2025
211
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of Friendswood’s workers commute out
Jobs based here grew from 6,143 in 2013 to 9,440.
Most working residents leave Friendswood for work: only 9% work in town. Since 2013, Friendswood has added 3,297 jobs, to 9,440 in 2023. The top destinations are Houston (38%), League City (5%) and Pasadena (4%).
9%work in town
| Friendswood | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $127,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 18% | 9.6% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Friendswood9%
Houston38%
League City5%
Pasadena4%
Pearland4%
16 mi
median commute distance
9,440
jobs based in Friendswood
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 56% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Friendswood
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 92% of Texas towns, with expected losses of about $557 per resident a year; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on. 4,386 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 394 properties have flooded more than once.
Since 1978, 4,386 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Friendswood.
78risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesCold waves
4,386
paid flood claims since 1978
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Friendswood has mild winters and hot summers
The Houston Nwso weather station, 7 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 317 days, longer than in 96% of U.S. towns. The Houston Nwso weather station, 7 miles away, records that about 76 days a year reach 90°, more than in 95% of U.S. towns.
Friendswood has warm winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 92°, January nights drop to 45° and snow is almost unheard of.
93°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter47–66°
Spring61–79°
Summer75–92°
Fall62–81°
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
93°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsB−
Friendswood has set aside 3.4% of its land for conservation
4.4 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves.
#314for trails in TX
| Friendswood | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.4% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
3.4%
conserved · 448 of 13,215 acres
4.4 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Stevenson Park | 1 mi | 24 |
| 2. Centennial Park | 0.7 mi | 58 |
| 3. Old City Park | 0.5 mi | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Friendswood
20pages on Friendswood
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 83% of TX districts · 11 schoolsSafetyA−0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than TX on 21 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$457K typical home · up 0.7% in a yearWork & commuteA$127K median household income · 9,440 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 78% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Friendswood
Remington College-Houston Southeast CampusCommunity college · Private nonprofit · League City4.9 mi$16,926 tuitionUniversity of Houston-Clear LakeUniversity or college · Public · Houston8 mi$7,770 in-state tuitionAlvin Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Alvin8.1 mi$1,906 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Friendswood residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Friendswood for work
Where Friendswood’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
9,440jobs based in Friendswood
9%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Friendswood
8 notable people were born in Friendswood.
K
Katie Rose ClarkeAmerican actress · born 1984
A
Anthony HillAmerican football tight end · born 1985
About Friendswood
City in Texas, United States
Friendswood is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The city lies in Galveston and Harris counties. As of the 2020 census, the population of Friendswood was 41,213.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1960
- Area
- 21 sq mi
- Elevation
- 30 ft
- ZIP code
- 77546, 77549
- Area code
- 281
Friendswood’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Friendswood.
At #30 in TX, it grades higher overall than all 5 graded towns on its borders; League City (B+) comes closest.
League CityPearlandWebsterAlvinHoustonFriendswood
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TX rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendswood | #30 | A− | D | A− | A− | A |
| League City | #84 | B+ | D | B | A− | A |
| Pearland | #116 | B | D | B− | A− | A− |
| Webster | #357 | C− | D | D− | A− | A− |
| Alvin | #321 | C | C | C+ | B | C |
| Houston | #606 | D− | C− | D− | C− | C+ |
Questions about Friendswood
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Friendswood, TX a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Friendswood grades A− overall, better than 81% of U.S. towns and #30 of 640 in Texas. It grades A for health, A− for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Friendswood, TX expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Friendswood, TX known for?
Friendswood was established in 1895. 8 notable people were born here, including Ronnie Price and Katie Rose Clarke.