Pearland vs Friendswood: Which Fits Your Move?

Two neighboring suburbs south of Houston, both popular with families who work at the Medical Center or near Clear Lake. Pearland is bigger and newer, with more homes to choose from at lower prices. Friendswood is smaller, costs a little more, and is known for its own school district. Here is the side-by-side.

	Pearland	Friendswood
Median sale price, last 12 months	$378,000 (1,384 sales), about the same as $379,000	$425,000 (789 sales), down 3% from $437,000
Median price per square foot	$160	$179
Median days to sell	23	20
Homes	1980s and 1990s subdivisions plus newer master-planned communities such as Shadow Creek Ranch	Established neighborhoods on larger lots, plus newer sections such as West Ranch
School districts	Mostly Pearland ISD; Shadow Creek Ranch and the west side are Alvin ISD; a small western piece is Fort Bend ISD	Friendswood ISD for the Galveston County part of the city (most of it); Clear Creek ISD for the Harris County side
Property taxes, example	A $373,000 home pays about $8,720 a year, about $6,760 with the homestead exemption; some newer areas add a MUD	A $411,000 home pays about $8,190, about $6,010 with the homestead exemption
Drive to the Medical Center	About 26 minutes, 39 to 52 at rush hour	About 33 minutes, 50 to 66 at rush hour
Floodplain share	About 30% in the 100-year floodplain and 24% more in the 500-year zone	About 20% in the 100-year floodplain and 11% more in the 500-year zone
Hurricane Harvey flood claims	ZIP 77581: 958; ZIP 77584: 482	ZIP 77546: 1,842

Sales figures: HAR MLS (Houston Association of Realtors) closed sales of single-family homes, townhomes and condos, November 2025 through October 2026, compared with November 2024 through October 2025, by HAR market area; pulled by Compean Group November 9, 2026. Data not verified or guaranteed by the MLS. Tax examples, drive times, flood shares and school notes come from our neighborhood guides, where each source is cited.

Prices and choice

Pearland had 1,384 sales in the last 12 months at a $378,000 median, flat from the year before. Friendswood had 789 sales at $425,000. For the same budget, Pearland usually buys a newer or larger house; Friendswood usually buys a larger lot or an established street.

Schools

Friendswood ISD serves most of Friendswood, and its schools are a main reason buyers choose the city. Pearland is split: most of the city is Pearland ISD, while Shadow Creek Ranch and the west side are Alvin ISD (Shadow Creek High School). Check the district for any address before you write an offer.

Flooding

Both cities sit along Clear Creek and its tributaries. FEMA maps put about 30% of the Pearland area we outline and about 20% of Friendswood in the 100-year floodplain, and Harvey produced 1,842 flood insurance claims in Friendswood’s ZIP 77546. Ask for the seller’s disclosure and an elevation certificate, and get a flood insurance quote during your option period.

Which fits your move

Choose Pearland for more homes to choose from, newer construction and a shorter drive to the Medical Center. Choose Friendswood for Friendswood ISD, a smaller-town feel and established neighborhoods.

Questions buyers ask about Pearland and Friendswood

Is Friendswood more expensive than Pearland?

A little. Over the last 12 months the median sale was $425,000 in Friendswood and $378,000 in Pearland (HAR MLS, November 2025 through October 2026).

Which school district serves Friendswood?

Friendswood ISD serves the Galveston County part of the city, which is most of it. The Harris County part north of Clear Creek is Clear Creek ISD.

Did Pearland and Friendswood flood in Harvey?

Many homes did. FEMA recorded 1,842 flood insurance claims in Friendswood’s ZIP 77546 and 958 in Pearland’s ZIP 77581. Flood risk varies by street, so check each address.

Deciding between Pearland and Friendswood? We sell homes in both and can show you recent sales on the streets you are considering. Call or text (832) 777-3904 or email admin@thecompeangroup.com.
Talk with our team

Updated November 9, 2026